STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — After more than 40 years with the New York City Police Department, Detective Thomas Cerbone is hanging up his badge and leaving behind a legacy that included Times Square patrols, presidential motorcades, and community service.
Cerbone retires as the most senior officer among the NYPD’s 36,000 members, a distinction confirmed by a department-wide list released just days before his final tour.
Cerbone, inspired by his father — an NYPD officer and detective he describes as his hero — joined the force in 1984. His first assignment was with NSU 3, covering Midtown North and South…