Community Council meeting gets residents action

At the January meeting of the 106th Precinct Community Council, residents were less boisterous than they had been the month before, and were able to communicate with officers what they feel needs to be done to improve quality of life in the area.
The meeting — this month filled to overflowing — began with the presentation of Cop of the Month, this time awarded to Officer Mike Sullivan, who helped to bring down an organized auto-stripping group.
According to his superiors, Sullivan chased down and tackled two suspects before making the arrest.
After dealing with other business, officials of the 106 opened up the floor for comments.
One mother claimed that in the Howard Beach section of Rockwood Park cops were picking up youths “not doing anything wrong.”
She went on to recount how her teenage son was picked up and brought to the precinct, where her other son, age 21, had to pick him up.
Lieutenant Mike Coyle calmly explained to the mother that, “Our police officers do not randomly roam the streets and pick people up.”
Ever action-oriented, Coyle told the woman that he would get the information on the alleged pick up and resolve the issue.
Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector John Doherty then explained that if children are in a park after 9 p.m., they will be picked up and brought to the stationhouse, where parents will have to get them.
If kids are in the park after 9 p.m. and are 16 years old or over, they will be issued a criminal court summons, according to Doherty.
One resident, a manager at the Kentucky Fried Chicken, complained of large numbers of kids congregating in the parking lot.
Coyle introduced a new rookie officer —one of 18 at the precinct — some of whom will be used to patrol during school dismissal.
He also quipped with a first-time attendee that, “You’ll get more attention regarding your complaint than you’ll want.”
Many in the room then stopped to praise the work of the 106th, saying, “The police, especially Lt. Coyle, have been very helpful in bringing peace back to our block [Chicot Road].”
Officials announced that the Patrol Borough Queens South talent show will be on March 15 at 7 p.m. at York College. This is a chance for officers to showcase their lesser-known abilities, such as singing, dancing, etc.
There will be no meeting of the 106th Precinct Community Council in February.