As part of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on Jan. 9, PDQ in Farmingdale invited Robert Clohessy and Abigail Hawk, two cast members of the CBS long-running drama Blue Bloods, to the restaurant to take photos and chat with local officers. The general public was also invited to the event.
“We did this to raise awareness of community support [for first responders],” Operating Director of PDQ MT Francisco said. “I don’t think they get enough credit for what they do. This event shows our appreciation for that.”
Danny Frank, PDQ’s community liaison and public relations manager, had already established a relationship with Clohessy through his work. He thought it would be a great idea to invite him down to the restaurant and ask him to bring a co-star.
“Many of the cops that I know watch Blue Bloods,” said Frank. “Its an institution having been on for years. I’m a big Blue Bloods fan. When I asked if he would be interested in coming down, he said he would be delighted.”
Clohessy, who plays Lieutenant Sidney “Sid” Gormley on the show, said he was glad to come down for such a good cause.
“Its good for the police department to know that we got their back,” said Clohessy. “Its fun to do as well. Its good to support the guys that put their lives on the line.”
Joining Clohessy was Hawk, who plays Detective Abigail Baker on Blue Bloods. She echoed the sentiments of Clohessy when talking about police officers, saying that she is happy to be in a position where she has these opportunities to say thanks for their service. She also talked about how important learning from officers helped her in her role.
“I don’t have any family members who are in law enforcement so I had to do a bunch of research before starting this gig,” said Hawk. “I always try to listen as much as possible to the stories of other officers. I’m particularly interested in learning about women in law enforcement, especially those in leadership positions.”
“My dad was a cop,” said Clohessy. “I don’t have to go too far. My brother is a retired detective, so I know a lot about the cop world. I grew up in it. The only research I really had to do was with my Dad when I first started Hill Street Blues.”
Local officers who came to PDQ were able to get 50 percent off their meal, which is a policy they have all year long. Throughout the day, local officers and the general public lined up to take photos with Clohessy and Hawk. The actors did get a chance to sit down and enjoy a meal with PDQ co-owner Thomas Fanning.
For Fanning, he finds it important to connect to the community with these kind of events, especially those who serve it.
“[Officers] share their appreciation for us by doing what they do, risking their lives for us,” said Fanning. “My grandfather was an officer. My son-in-law is NYPD. I couldn’t be a cop because I don’t have the temperament. I’ve always admired those that do have that and they do what they do. I don’t think they’re appreciated enough. Doing this event is nothing compared to what they do. This is our way to say that the community thanks you.”
PDQ, located at 1004 Broadhollow Rd., is actively involved in the community, from donating over 500 sandwiches for Long Island Fight For Charity in Huntington to sponsoring many 5K races on the island. For more information on the restaurant and any upcoming events they will be participating in or hosting, visit www.eatpdq.com.
As for Blue Bloods, the CBS show is currently in its 10th season on the air, with Clohessy and Hawk being part of all 10 seasons. Hawk has been thrilled to have been part of the show for so long, with it having helped her grow as an actress.
“This is a decade of my life,” said Hawk. “I got my teeth as an actor on this show. I became a mom while being part of this show. Its been exciting being a part of this journey with people like [Clohessy] who make me feel like I matter.”
