Daughter of Tot Lot Namesake Follows Father's Footsteps, Joins NYPD

You may see the name every day at the Tot Lot on the corner of Cortelyou and Argyle: Federico Narvaez. And you may know that Narvaez was a Lieutenant in the 70th Precinct when was killed on duty in 1996, shot on East 17th Street when he stopped to assist a woman who had flagged down his patrol car.

But now there’s a new chapter to his story. Yesterday Lt. Narvaez’ daughter, Katrina, who was nine years old when her father was killed, followed in her dad’s footsteps as she was sworn in to the New York City Police Department.

“I wanted to do something that would make my dad proud and my mom proud,” she told the Times, adding that though she put college on hold for the force, she hopes to return to complete her archeology degree.

Her family has expressed concern about her choice to become a cop, but Katrina explained to the Post that she knows better than most that there’s a bad side to the job, but that she’s seen the good side as well, has heard inspirational stories of camaraderie.

She pointed to the annual ceremony hosted by the 70th Precinct to honor her father’s death, where officers share memories about him, and Father Perry from Our Lady of Refuge says a prayer.

“It’s really nice to know that he wasn’t forgotten,” she said. “It’s not just like he gave his life and that was it.”