The departments of New York City have several famous superlative nicknames:
 
FINEST—Police Department (NYPD)
BRAVEST—Fire Department (FDNY)
STRONGEST—Sanitation Department (DSNY)
BOLDEST—Corrections Department (NYCD)
BEST—Fire Department Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (FDNY EMS)
PROUDEST—Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)
     
“New York’s Proudest” is one of the newest of the superlatives. The “F.Y.I.” column of the New York (NY) Times explained the term on June 11, 2000:
   
“Taxi and Limousine Commission inspectors. The expression itself could be called ‘New York’s stalest.’”
   
“The tagline for the TLC (taxi & limo commission of nyc) is new york’s proudest - really? No seriously, proud of what? NO for real, for real?” was posted on Twitter by jody melissa on September 15, 2011. “TLC’s newest class of inspector cadets, sworn-in and ready to join the ranks of New York’s Proudest! Bravo!” was posted on Twitter by NYC TLC on April 16, 2015.
   
   
11 June 2000, New York (NY) Times, “F.Y.I.” by Daniel B. Schneider, City sec., pg. 2:
Cliches in Superlative
Q.: If New York City police are nicknamed ‘‘New York’s finest,’’ city firefighters are known as ‘‘New York’s bravest’’ and city sanitation workers call themselves ‘‘New York’s strongest,’’ who are ‘‘New York’s proudest’‘?
A.: Taxi and Limousine Commission inspectors. The expression itself could be called ‘‘New York’s stalest.’’
 
Straight Dope Message Board
New Yorks’s Finest, Bravest . . . what else is on the list?
x-ray vision
03-03-2004, 10:22 AM
Corrections Officers : “New York’s Boldest”
TLC Enforcement Officers : “New York’s Proudest”
EMS drivers and paramedics : simply “New York’s Best”.
       
Twitter
Ari Paparo
@aripap
Did you know that the taxi and limousine police are “new york’s proudest”!
7:04 AM - 17 Jul 2007
 
Twitter
jody melissa
@jodymeliss
The tagline for the TLC (taxi & limo commission of nyc) is new york’s proudest - really? No seriously, proud of what? NO for real, for real?
6:15 PM - 15 Sep 2011
 
Twitter
Alan Cordova
@alancordova
NYC Superlatives: “Finest”=NYPD “Bravest”=FDNY “Strongest”=Sanitation “Boldest”=Corrections “Proudest”=TLC & Bridge/Tunnel Authty “Best”=EMS
8:06 PM - 17 Jan 2012
     
Twitter
Liz Goldenberg
@newstruthliz
Just saw an official car labeled #NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission “New York’s Proudest”. Must be @nyctaxi’s & @davidyassky’s idea of a #joke
9:33 AM - 6 Dec 2013
 
Twitter
NYC TLC
@nyctaxi
TLC’s newest class of inspector cadets, sworn-in and ready to join the ranks of New York’s Proudest! Bravo!
5:16 PM - 16 Apr 2015