His blood runs NYPD blue.
Fourth-generation cop Christopher Messina — whose father, grandfather and great-grandfather all walked a beat — was handed the Mayor’s Award for highest overall average on Thursday when he and 465 new officers were sworn onto the force at Madison Square Garden.
The 29-year-old, who scored 98.5 percent overall, told The Post he was inspired to get a badge and a gun when his dad, Deputy Inspector Gary Messina, came home on 9/11 covered in dust.
“That’s when I really honed in on how important police officers are,” Messina said.
Still, it turned out to be his second career choice. After initially applying to the NYPD, he pulled his application as a senior in college to pursue a master’s degree in graphic design.
He went on to work on various project to honor law enforcement, including a 9/11 tribute. But he said he wasn’t happy in his new career and soon reapplied to the NYPD.
“I can’t grow old and not give this a try,” he said. “I would regret this for the rest of my life.”