‘An incredible honor to serve’

Patrick Freaney was shot down when he first tried to join the US Secret Service — but the 9/11 survivor, former state trooper and native New Yorker isn’t one to quit on a dream.

Freaney, 48, gave it another shot and went on to a decorated 25-year career with the elite federal agency, guarding US presidents, UN dignitaries and rising to the top spot in the Big Apple field office.

This week, he’s calling it a career.

“I always felt a strong connection to New York, even from my early days in the service,” he told The Post. “To conclude my career here as the Special Agent in Charge will always be a source of personal pride. It’s been an honor and a privilege to lead this amazing group of dedicated professionals.”

Raised in Long Beach, Freaney was the son of an FDNY captain and a New York City school teacher, and went on to attend Siena College, where he was a standout lacrosse player.

But he dreamed of a career in law enforcement, inspired by his FBI agent grandfather, and joined the state police department in 1998, serving in Farmingdale, Brewster and Wappingers Falls.

Seeking to join the Secret Service, at first he was rejected.

“It was humbling, but it was also a really good lesson early in life that things will not always go your way,” Freaney said. “It also taught me about resolve and it obviously worked out when I re-applied.”

This time, he got in, and joined the service on July 21, 2000, starting in the New York Field Office.

On Sept. 11, 2001, he survived the collapse of 7 World Trade Center during the terror attacks, and joined first-responders in follow-up evacuation and recovery efforts.

His career then took off, joining the Counter Assault Team in the Special Operations Division in 2005 and moving to the Presidential Protection Division in 2008, where he was part of the unit protecting former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

“People always know the service for its role in protection, but we also have an investigative mission where we focus on financial crimes that significantly impact the public and our financial system.”

In June 2012 he returned home as assistant to the special agent in charge in the New York office, and in March 2016 was promoted to resident special agent in charge of the White Plains office.

Two more promotions quickly followed, to assistant special agent in charge of the Electronic Crimes Task Force in 2018, deputy special agent in charge the following year, and, finally, to special agent in charge of the New York office in June 2021.

Among his duties was protecting the United Nations General Assembly — a massive job that requires protecting at least 130 foreign dignitaries when they converge on Manhattan.

“You can never get risk to zero,” he said. “There’s always risk. It’s our job to mitigate it. In a global threat environment, we need to be aware of the issues and take everything into consideration.”

Now, after fulfilling every task his country asked him for, he’s retiring on Thursday.

“I want to thank him for everything he has done for the NYPD, for New York City, for the country, and beyond,” said Rebecca Weiner, Deputy Commissioner, Intelligence and Counterterrorism for the NYPD. “Pat is the best of the best.

“He navigates the stormiest waters with unflappable competence, treats colleagues as family, and approaches his job with consummate professionalism,” Weiner said. “We will miss Pat, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

That endeavor will be head of global security for the Bank of New York Mellon.