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New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Robert \u201cBobby\u201d Boyce, who is retiring after 35 years on the streets of New York, will blow the whistle to officially start the 257th New York City St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade Saturday, March 17, 11 a.m., at 44th Street and Fifth Avenue.\nChief Boyce, who will be 63 years old March 18, the mandatory retirement age for uniformed NYPD members, had planned to make March 17 his last day on the job.
\n\u201cI was going to march up Fifth Avenue as I done for so many years and then just keep marching off into the sunset,\u201d said Boyce, who recalls missing only one parade in 35 years because he was working a case.
\n\u201cBut they asked me to stay around for a few more weeks to help with the transition.\u201d
\n\u201cChief Bobby Boyce, who leads the finest detective force in the world and who has played an integral role in making New York the safest big city in the nation, is more than worthy of this honor,\u201d said John Lahey, chairman of the New York City St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade Board of Directors. \u201cIn fact, we are honored that this great leader \u2013 this great cop \u2013 will start us on our way.\u201d
\n\u201cWith my long-term affiliation with NYPD\u2019s Emerald Society and Holy Name Society, New York\u2019s St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade has always been significant for me. Now, in my home stretch as Chief of Detectives, this year\u2019s parade will be particularly momentous for me, both personally and professionally, and it\u2019s an absolute honor to start the parade,\u201d Chief Boyce said.
\nBoyce will blow the same whistle he used when he started on patrol in 1983.
\nChief Boyce and his wife of 34 years, Kathleen, have two children, Robert Jr. and Caitlin, as well as a son in law Ryan. They live in Bethpage. C
\nChief Boyce and the 257th New York City St. Patrick\u2019s Day Parade step off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 17, and proceed up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 72nd Street. The parade is broadcast live on WNBC-TV 4 and livestreamed on nbcnewyork.com and nycstpatricksparade.org. <\/p>\n