This superhero should consider investing in a mask.
The NYPD chief who went viral for rushing into action to take down two alleged ISIS-inspired botched bombers outside Grace Mansion doesn’t want his newfound fame.
Assistant Chief Aaron Edwards became the talk of the town this week after he was snapped hurdling a barricade and pouncing on the alleged teen terrorist who had just launched a homemade explosive device at his fellow officers’ feet.
“First off, I’m happy that I cleared that barrier. Imagine if I fell!” Edwards, 46, joked during a press conference Wednesday.
“I don’t want that picture to be about me. I want it to be about the day. I wanted to be about what we did. I want that picture to be a reminder to New Yorkers that you know your cops — the members of NYPD — we’re going to be relentless in pursuing justice,” he continued.
“There’s gonna be no obstacles. Nothing’s gonna stand in our way from protecting New Yorkers.”
The iconic photograph landed on the front page of The Post Wednesday, and was later re-shared on social media by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
It enjoyed a second life with online jokers, as well, with some edits showing Edwards sporting a superhero cape and others transforming him into a Lego version of himself.
Edwards described the memes as “uplifting” — especially considering it took roughly two hours for the hero to realize just how much danger he had been facing in the moment.
The viral snapshot caught the moment after two radicalized Pennsylvania teens allegedly tossing two homemade bombs at cops during an anti-Muslim rally led by right-wing agitator Jake Lang on Saturday.
Another intense photograph showed suspect Emir Balat, 18, trying to escape after dropping the lit device directly in front of Edwards and NYPD Sgt. Luis Navarro — igniting the chase that made Edwards famous.
With the help of other cops, Edwards nabbed Balat and his alleged co-conspirator, 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi. Both are in federal custody and face terrorism charges.
“It’s important to just remind everyone that it wasn’t just myself and Sergeant Navarro. We had a lot of cops there. Everyone did their job as best as you can ask,” Edwards said.
“In that moment, you know, we had to pivot from one type of policing to a different type policing, and I think the way that we transitioned was really good.”
Edwards, a St. Albans, Queens, native who lives with his wife and two sons in Huntington, LI, was a college student studying biology and planning to go into pharmaceutical sales when terrorists ravaged the Big Apple on Sept. 11, 2001.
He was inspired enough by the heroism of the NYPD and others that day to decide to become a cop, he told The Post at his promotion to assistant chief by Commissioner Tisch in December.
