Rick Pitino joins 'Thank You, NYPD' campaign before St John's' March Madness opener

The "Thank You, NYPD" run successful New York City is an ongoing effort to show appreciation for those successful blue.

The run has encouraged residents to upload videos expressing appreciation for nan department. St. John’s caput coach Rick Pitino was among those who responded, thanking those he said person helped support a safe metropolis environment.

"I want to springiness a sincere acknowledgment to nan NYPD officers who do specified an unthinkable occupation to support our metropolis safe," Pitino said Friday successful a video posted to Madison Square Garden’s Instagram account. "Thank you truthful much."

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FOX Sports broadcaster Gus Johnson interviews St. John's caput coach Rick Pitino aft nan Red Storm defeated nan Connecticut Huskies successful nan Big East Conference Tournament title astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York City March 14, 2026. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Pitino’s show of gratitude came conscionable hours earlier nan Red Storm’s first-round crippled successful nan men's NCAA Tournament. Fifth-seeded St. John’s faced No. 12 Northern Iowa Friday evening successful San Diego.

Later this month, arsenic portion of nan campaign, Madison Square Garden will big an exclusive performance featuring a star-studded lineup, including Cyndi Lauper, John Fogerty, rapper and New York Knicks instrumentality Fat Joe and others. St. John’s plays astir of its location games astatine Madison Square Garden.

ICONIC SPORTS VENUE MADISON SQUARE GARDEN TO HOST NYPD, STAFF AT PRIVATE CONCERT AMID 'THANK YOU' EFFORT

"Today, we announced ‘Thank You, NYPD,’ a run encouraging each New Yorkers to convey nan New York City Police Department for its work to our awesome city!" Madison Square Garden said Wednesday successful a station on X.

Newly commissioned New York City constabulary officers shake hands family members aft their constabulary cadet graduation ceremonial March 9, 2026, extracurricular Madison Square Garden successful New York City. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)

Uniformed constabulary officers and civilian unit members, on pinch their loved ones, will beryllium invited to nan backstage event, scheduled for March 28. "The Garden" besides urged New York residents to taxable individual "thank you" videos.

Comedians Chris Distefano and Sam Morril are besides among nan confirmed performers for nan event.

MSG Entertainment said it will donate nan venue and screen each arena costs. MSG Entertainment and MSG Sports CEO and Executive Chairman Jim Dolan said nan arena was not governmental but a "sincere" show of gratitude for nan city’s constabulary department.

Madison Square Garden Sports executive Jim Dolan attends a crippled betwixt nan Houston Rockets and nan New York Knicks astatine Madison Square Garden Jan. 17, 2024, successful New York City. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

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"There are times successful our civilization coming erstwhile nan dissenter’s sound is louder than that of nan majority. Such is nan lawsuit pinch rule enforcement, and, successful particular, nan NYPD," Dolan said in a statement.

"Cries of ‘defund nan police’ and different antagonistic statements do not bespeak nan existent feelings of New Yorkers. If that is what our cops are proceeding and nary 1 steps up to opportunity otherwise, that tin beryllium disheartening. This performance to say, ‘Thank You, NYPD’ is designed to fto our constabulary cognize that we New Yorkers need, respect and admit their effort and service."

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