NY Nicks Honor NYPD Detective Joseph Lemm with “City Sipirt” Award

NEW YORK, January, 2016 – The New York Knickerbockers have announced the late Detective Joseph Lemm, of the Bronx Warrant Squad, as this month’s Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit” Award winner for serving and protecting New York City and the nation beyond the call of duty. The award, presented by ZTE USA, is named in honor of Basketball Hall-of-Famer Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African-American to play for the Knicks, recognizes individuals who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. Each month a winner is chosen by members of the Knicks front office staff and honored at center court during a Knicks game with a $2,000 donation in his or her name made out to a charity of their choice.

Det. Lemm, a 15-year NYPD veteran nicknamed “Superman” by his fellow officers, was one of six U.S. troops killed in the December 2015 Afghanistan suicide bombing. Lemm, a staff sergeant in the Air National Guard, was deployed three times: twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq. Fellow officers have described Lemm as a selfless servant who strived to keep his country and city safe.

Sunday night, when the Knicks host the Golden State Warriors, Lemm’s wife and children will accept the Sweetwater Clifton City Spirit Award, presented by Knicks Legend John Starks and Lixin Cheng, Chairman and CEO of ZTE USA, at center court of Madison Square Garden, on Det. Lemm’s behalf. Cheng will present the family with a check for an additional $2,000 to donate to a charity of their choice and a ZTE Spro 2 Smart Projector on behalf of ZTE USA, the official Smartphone of the New York Knicks.

The award money will go to “St. Anthony of Padua Church”, located in West Harrison, NY.

To nominate your hero, or to read more about this month’s winners and other past winners, please visit nyknicks.com.