One of NYPD’s finest got a taste of Australia at Symbio Wildlife Park on the weekend when Sgt Anthony Lisi visited the Helensburgh zoo.
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Sgt Lisi is a member of NYPD ESU and was brought to Symbio by local Helensburgh resident and NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit Leading senior constable Marcus Backway.
The idea was to get the chance to get up close and personal with some native animals on his first visit to Australia.
During his visit Sgt Lisi made friends with James the koala, Kiah the Dingo and cuddled some Kangaroo.
He even got to handle an American Alligator just so he did not get a chance to get homesick.
Many magical memories were captured on camera for him to take photos home to his wife and three little girls.
Sgt Lisi has been with the NYPD for 19 years, 14 of those assigned to NYPD ESU.
He was on the ground during the World Trade Centre 9/11 attacks, surviving the collapse of both towers.
Leading senior constable Backway had previously visited Sgt Lisi in New York and requested he come to Australia for research and information sharing between police units in the United States and Australia.
His stay included a visit to the Lindt Café in Sydney’s CBD and meetings with Water Police, Pol Air, Police Rescue and Tactical Unit.
Research and information sharing helps strengthen knowledge skills both here in Australia for our local forces and provides Sgt Lisi with techniques and information he can then take home and share with his unit.
But Sgt Lisi did get some time for sightseeing.
Along with Symbio Wildlife Park he visited Darling Harbour and Sydney Opera House, climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, took in the sights of Bald Hill Lookout and checked out the surf at Stanwell Park Beach.