New York City's most-decorated cop finally gets retirement party

MERRICK, N.Y. -- An illness brought a sudden end to the career of New York City's most decorated police officer, but his accomplishments have not been forgotten, CBS New York station WCBS-TV reports.

Retired NYPD Detective Michael Hinrichs is, by all accounts, a cop's cop.

"They started calling me 'The General' back in the day," he said.

He has a resume that lists more than 1,000 arrests, 100 closed cases for the Brooklyn South Homicide Unit and enough awards to make him the most decorated NYPD officer ever.

"It's very humbling, and it's hard to really believe," Hinrichs said.

In his 30-year career, Hinrichs has earned almost 200 medals, including two combat crosses and two medals of valor.

He has survived four shootouts. He even shot a gun right out of a suspect's hand.

"I don't want to say a lucky shot, but I guess it was a lucky shot," he said.

He was also injured twice, most recently 22 years ago, when a bullet grazed his hand.

However, Hinrichs said the scariest moment of his life happened at home.

"I was lying on my bathroom floor for a couple hours when nobody was home, and I'm thinking my whole life's flashing in front of me," he said.

In August 2013, Hinrichs suffered a career-ending stroke. His last day of work came much sooner than expected, so he missed out on a traditional "walkout," when fellow officers line up and applaud the retiree.

On Thursday, he will be honored at a belated retirement party.

"I'm really looking forward to [it], not so much as a party for me, but as a party for all of us," he said.

Hinrichs can't wait to see his police family next to his own, including a son who is following in his father's footsteps.

The retired detective said his greatest achievement is being a husband and father that his family can be proud of.