Dynamic mother and daughter duo making mark on NYPD

LONG ISLAND CITY, Queens (WABC) -- They may look more like sisters, but a mom and daughter crime fighting duo can't remember life without the strength of each other.

"This is my world, this is my rock, I know no matter what she supports me. My Life is what it is today because of her," says Captain Lavonda Wise.

Detective Laverda Pugliese-Phillips says Wise encouraged her to be the 'best person' that she could be because she was a young single mother.

Detective Pugliese joined the NYPD nearly 30 years ago after she was mugged in Brooklyn.

"I had two daughters, and I wanted to be something for them," she says.

When the time came, Detective Pugliese recruited her oldest to leave a banking job, and join the rank in file, and over the last decade has watched her soar to captain.

Captain Lavonda Wise works for the School Safety Division now with a 2-year of her own at home. Her mother is her inspiration.

"Your life changes when you join a police department, and she helped me through it," says Wise, "She's given me the greatest gift of all, which is success."

Between the two of them, the women have a combined 42 years of experience with the department, and no plans to retire anytime soon. They are now trying to recruit new family members to join the ranks.