Two men — one dream.

New York is a city of immigrants, filled with those who traveled to the Big Apple to find a better life and live their dreams. Abdelalim Azab is just one among Gotham’s rich tapestry of new New Yorkers who not only moved to the United States but also looked to serve its citizens as a police officer, a legacy his son is continuing.

Azab fled his native Kuwait at the beginning of the Gulf War. After leaving with his family and settling in New York, Azab took on a slew of odd jobs, from working as a food vendor to driving a cab, a transition he described as difficult. 

“It wasn’t that easy. I’m the first generation, so I did find it hard to find my path,” Azab recalled. “Then little by little, I decided to achieve my goals.”

One of those goals was to become a member of law enforcement, to help people. So, despite all of the challenges that came with striving to make ends meet and raise a family, he fought for his dreams and became a police officer in July 2001.

“The NYPD was always on my mind. I remember even getting pulled over when I drove a cab and after they gave me a ticket I asked them how can I join the NYPD? They laughed at me,” Azab said. “So, that was always my dream.”

Abdelalim Azab came to the United States in pursuit of the American dream.Courtesy of NYPD

Azab spent two decades in the department, rising to the rank of detective and spending most of his career in the Intelligence Division until his retirement in 2021. But as he got up each day, suited up in his uniform, and went to work, his dedication did not go unnoticed by his own son, Samir Azab. 

“Growing up, I always saw my dad coming back and forth from work — he would be out for very, very long hours. But when he did come back, I would always ask him about the different things that he did at work. The stories that he told me, it was like I would just sit there with my eyes wide open, just staring at him, just like mesmerized by different things that he did,” Samir Azab told amNewYork. “I would see him in uniform and be like that’s what I want to do.”

In what was — so many years before — his father’s dream soon became Samir Azab’s dream as well. Samir told amNewYork that he remembered the exact moment that sealed the deal. As a young boy, he watched his father get promoted, and following that ceremony, his dad placed his police hat on his head, and in that moment, he knew he wanted to follow in his footsteps.

In January of 2024, he was officially sworn in as a police officer and now works out of the 68th precinct in Brooklyn, in the Q-teams division, which addresses quality-of-life complaints. While he now continues his father’s legacy, more than anything, he says his passion, just like his dad, is to help people.

In January of 2024, he was officially sworn in as a police officer and now works out of the 68th precinct in Brooklyn, in the Q-teams division, which addresses quality-of-life complaints. While he now continues his father’s legacy, more than anything, he says his passion, just like his dad, is to help people.Courtesy of NYPD

“I see what he did and after him leaving and retiring, I see him as leaving a legacy, and I see myself just picking that legacy up and continuing it on. I just want to end up following in his footsteps and doing exactly what he showed us as a father and as a police officer. Helping people, even when he was off duty, he would show us and teach us crucial lessons in life, and that was just the way he was,” Samir Azab said.