On the morning of Saturday, May 24, NYPD Officer Chowdhury Nafees was savagely attacked and robbed while heading home after a long night on duty. Though off the clock, he was still in uniform (a visible symbol of law and order) when two suspects approached him with violence.
Without warning, they threw him to the ground, punched and kicked him repeatedly, and held a knife to his throat. They stole his service weapon, wallet, and other belongings. Before fleeing, one of the suspects stomped on his face, leaving him unconscious and critically injured.
Thanks to a Good Samaritan who found him and called 911, Officer Nafees was rushed to the hospital. He is now in the Intensive Care Unit at Jacobi Hospital, facing multiple surgeries. His injuries are severe: head trauma, a fractured orbital bone, broken cheekbones on both sides and significant damage to his mouth and jaw. Doctors are preparing for oral floor reconstruction and other possible procedures in the days ahead.
Officer Nafees is just beginning his career in law enforcement. He joined the NYPD in September 2024 after serving as a 911 dispatcher since early 2022. He answered the call to serve, and now it’s our turn to answer the call for him.
This fundraiser was launched on Fund The First to help the Nafees family handle the overwhelming financial challenges ahead. Medical costs, time away from work, and recovery-related expenses will quickly add up. The goal is to raise $50,000 to help ease their burden — and over $26,000 has already been donated.
This, of course, comes in the wake of New York’s seemingly endless assault on police officers, spurred on by no less than the mayoral candidates themselves.Officer Nafees’s bravery, commitment, and willingness to put himself in harm’s way for the safety of others reflect the very best of what it means to wear the badge. Now more than ever, he and his family need to feel the strength of the Thin Blue Line.
This is the only official fundraiser approved by the Nafees family, Law Enforcement Officers Weekend, the NYPD’s Bangladeshi American Police Association, DESI Society, and the Muslim Officers Society. Donations go directly to the family to support Chowdhury’s recovery.
