Rookie is 111th Precinct ‘Cop of the Month’

The 111th Precinct recently named a rookie officer as “Cop of the Month” after he nabbed three robbery suspects, who allegedly snatched a young boy’s cell phone.
“I was just doing my job,” the honored officer, Jason Petri, 22, said. “It’s still nice to be recognized, though.”
On Friday, March 30, a young boy ran up to Petri, who was on foot patrol in Oakland Gardens, and said that he had been robbed by three teens near 64th Avenue and 223rd Place.
“I asked him, ‘When did it happen?’ and he said, about two minutes ago,” Petri said.
After spotting three suspects fleeing the scene, Petri gave chase and caught up with one of the young men three blocks later.
Then, Petri, another officer, and the suspect that Petri had caught drove around the area looking for the two other teens. At 3 p.m., police pulled up in front of Cardozo High School for dismissal, and Petri was able to pick the other would-be robbers out of the crowd of students.
“[The boy’s] parents were happy with the result of the situation,” Petri said.
On Tuesday, April 17, Petri was presented with the award at the Precinct’s monthly Community Council meeting.
“Due to Officer Petri’s quick thinking, drive and initiative, all three perpetrators of the robbery were apprehended in a timely fashion and have since been charged with robbery second degree by the Queens District Attorney’s Office,” said 111th Precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Scott Hanover.
A Long Island native, Petri knew at age four that he wanted to be a cop, and that desire was only strengthened after hearing stories from a friend’s father, Randy Cresci, Sr., who worked as a New York City Housing Authority detective.
“He always said, ‘You should serve a cause greater than yourself,’” Petri remembered.
As for his first few months on the job, Petri has no complaints.
“I love [my job]. I can’t imagine trading it for anything else,” he said.