James Coll '95

June 2009

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When U.S. Airways Flight 1549 crash landed in the Hudson River, James Coll '95 was a first responder on the scene. In 1997, James joined the 'family business'—like his father and brother before him—when he was sworn in as a police officer in the New York City Police Department. James worked in other patrol assignments before being selected in September of 2002 with the distinct honor to be part of the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit (ESU). In 2004, he was promoted to detective and continues to work in the NYPD assigned to ESU. After joining the department, James returned to school to earn a Master's Degree in History from Hunter College. In addition to taking additional graduate courses in constitutional history, James is also an adjunct professor of American history since 2001. In his work with the NYPD, James has been awarded numerous times, including a Mayor's Certificate of Appreciation for an elevator rescue during the blackout of 2003, a commendation from the Life Saving Benevolent Association of New York for a water rescue in April 2006 and Cop of the Year from the New York City Police Foundation for efforts during the U.S. Airways Flight 1549 plane crash in the Hudson this past January.