New NYPD sergeant takes cues from his police officer parents — and a respected Housing Police cop killed in Brooklyn 30 years ago

A newly-minted NYPD sergeant wants to mold his career after his beloved parents — and a housing cop who was killed off duty 30 years ago.

As he shook Police Commissioner Edward Caban’s hand during Friday’s promotion ceremony at the Police Academy in Queens, Marshall Winston Jr., 26, looked into the audience at his proud parents, Candra and Marshall Winston Sr., who both retired from the NYPD as sergeants and are both survivors of 9/11 illness.

Winston’s father also survived a traumatic brain injury from a police car crash in 2017, he said.

“Having both of them here today to see me walk across the stage was a true blessing,” he said. “They both influenced my life so much. After seeing them get up every day and do what they love for 30 years, I couldn’t see how I could do any other job.”

But Winston was also thinking of another mentor on Friday. He remembered Police Officer Rudy Thomas, who was fatally shot in East New York, Brooklyn, in 1993 while off-duty by someone who wanted his motorcycle.

Thomas, 27, was trying to calm the gunman down when he was killed, the New York Times reported at the time.

Thomas and Winston’s father worked together as Housing Police officers before their department merged with the NYPD in 1995.

His parents actually met at Thomas’ funeral, Winston said.

“We can’t discuss how beautiful my family is without remembering Rudy Thomas,” Winston said.

After graduating St. Anthony’s High School in South Huntington, L.I., Winston followed his father’s footsteps and joined the Marine Corps. He then joined the NYPD and proudly carried his mom Candra’s police shield number.

When Winston was promoted to sergeant, he asked his father if he could use his sergeant shield number. The proud dad pinned the shield on his chest Friday morning before the ceremony.

“It was fantastic,” Marshall Winston Sr. said of the promotion ceremony. “He worked hard and studied a long time.”

Overwhelmed with pride, Winston’s mother remembered how her son led the 77 Marines in his platoon.

Since many of the soldiers never got letters or carepackages from home, the new sergeant would read them letters and shared supplies his parents sent, Candra recalled.

“He’s a great leader,” she said. “I just told him to do us right despite opposition, and treat people like they matter.”

Winston’s dad just had one piece of advice as his son moves up the ladder.

“Keep studying,” he said, hoping his son advances to commissioner one day. “He has to keep going.”