Rotary recognizes cops for jobs well done

            “These guys have a job to do and they do it well. They put their lives on the line every day.”

            So said Jamaica Rotary president Joe Iaboni at the latest Eddie Byrne Memorial Cop of the Month meeting, at which officers of the 102nd, 103rd, 106th and 113th Precincts were honored for a job well done.

            In the 103rd Precinct, which Deputy Inspector Charles McEvoy said has been struggling all year with robberies, Officers Sean Carolan and Christopher Karroll arrested five males between the ages of 16 and 19 for allegedly stealing cell phones. One incident was actually in the confines of the 107th Precinct. The two officers not only took the suspects into custody, but also recovered the phones.

            Four cops were honored from the 113th Precinct, two of which had responded to a similar situation before. On Saturday, May 22, Officers Joseph Algerio, James Zazzaro, Jeronnie Glanville and Jose Suriel responded to a call of shots fired. Upon arrival, they found a man on the ground, shot twice. They got a description of a van possibly involved in the incident and stopped the vehicle, from which they recovered a firearm. The officers arrested three for assault and criminal possession of a weapon. “They work hard in the 113th Precinct – they make arrests, maintain firearms control and make sure people are safe,” said Deputy Inspector Kristel Johnson.

            106th Precinct Executive Officer Craig Adelman explained that, within the command, from January through April of this year there has been an increase in robberies of nearly 50 percent over last year. “Officers have been working tirelessly to combat [this],” said Adelman. At Lefferts Boulevard and 111th Avenue, Officer Kevin Desormeau responded to an assault in progress. A large group assembled began to disperse when he arrived, and Desormeau saw one male with an injury to his face, though he refused to cooperate. As he continued to patrol, Desormeau observed a suspect wanted for robberies and took him into custody. The 20-year-old perp had multiple priors and was held without bail. Since his arrest, said Adelman, there has been a near 25 percent decrease in robberies.

            Officer Michael Sogluizzo is now a three-time recipient of the “Cop of the Month” honors. “He’s no stranger to taking guns off the streets, arresting people for robberies – he’s a well-rounded police officer,” said Lieutenant Rob Seaman. In the beginning of May, while on routine patrol, Sogluizzo saw a man acting suspiciously in front of a home. He hailed a cab, but Sogluizzo noticed that he had put a rifle on the property. He was arrested without incident.

            “With all the bravery of Queens South, we may have to have two meetings a month,” joked Assistant Chief James Secreto, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens South. “These officers are protecting us here and at home.”