Police Officer Joseph Rinaldo began his public safety career as a New York City Paramedic, where he responded to numerous large-scale hazardous materials incidents, including the Ebola outbreak, gaining extensive experience in emergency medical response under high-risk conditions. In 2018, he joined the New York City Police Department, serving in the 42nd Precinct in the South Bronx on midnight patrol and in the anti-crime unit, where he demonstrated exceptional dedication to community safety. 

In 2023, Officer Rinaldo was transferred to the Counterterrorism Operational Support Section’s COBRA Unit, where he plays a key role in the Hazmat Operations Program, training over 1,100 NYPD personnel in large-scale decontamination procedures. He has developed and coordinated multiple exercises addressing chemical suicide response and continues to advance research into emerging hazardous material threats. Officer Rinaldo remains committed to enhancing first responder safety through innovation, training, and operational excellence. 

In 2023, Officer Rinaldo also received a Citation from the NYC Mayor for coordinating a multiagency rescue of a woman who was attacked by a shark on a NYC Beach.