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Bayside club honors Bell Boulevard officer

By Kathianne Boniello

The sound of good-natured laughter accompanied bright smiles last week as the Bayside Kiwanis club recognized longtime Bell Boulevard Police Officer Cosmo Camilliti with an award named in memory of prominent community activist Lou Theiss.

Camilliti, a member of the 111th Precinct who can often be seen riding his bicycle throughout Bayside while on patrol, has covered the Bell Boulevard beat for eight to 10 years, he said at the May 16 Kiwanis club meeting.

In presenting Camilliti with the Lou Theiss Memorial Award for community service, civic leader and Kiwanis club member Frank Skala praised the officer for his dedication to the community.

“He’s a presence, someone who’s almost universally liked,” Skala told about 25 people who met at First Edition restaurant on Bell Boulevard to honor Camilliti. “You know there’s somebody here you can turn to.”

In the midst of Skala’s speech, Bayside Business Association President Judy Limpert spoke up to give her endorsement of Camilliti’s work.

“We like the bike,” she said as the room burst into laughter. In a slightly more serious moment, Limpert — an executive at North Fork Bank at the intersection of Bell and Northern boulevards — commented on Camilliti’s regular visits to local businesses.

“He brightens up my day with his beautiful smile,” she said.

Jack Oshier, a retired Bayside businessman who maintains strong ties to the merchant community, also complimented Camilliti.

“Cosmo is here when we need him,” Oshier said. “He’s always around.”

Skala described Camilliti as “our local cop” in the “small town” of Bayside and set off more laughter when he told the officer he had to stay on his beat.

“I forbid the department to transfer you,” he said as those in the room began to giggle. “I forbid the department to promote you — you are to stay here with us.”

Skala, president of the East Bayside Homeowners Association, also took time to describe Lou Theiss, the community activist memorialized by the reward, who died in January at the age of 75.

“He was Kiwanis,” Skala said of Theiss, a prominent member of the organization. “He was Mr. Volunteer and did everything in the community and did it well. He was the epitome of what a parent should be, of what a civic leader should be, of what a Kiwanis leader should be.”

Upon accepting his award, Camilliti returned the community’s praise.

“Most of the people I’ve come in contact with in Bayside are just real good people,” he said. “It’s easy being a cop here. It’s nice to know in some communities we’re appreciated — thank you.”

Sgt. Richard Guercio also applauded the Kiwanis members for their gratitude.

“It’s a pleasure to see the community show their appreciation for the police,” he said.

Commenting on how many people in the community know and recognize Camilliti, Guercio said “when I go out with Cosmo, it’s like being out with the mayor.”

Reach reporter Kathianne Boniello by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 146.