By Nathan Duke
The city Police Department honored volunteer officers from Queens who were chosen as the most exemplary by the borough’s 15 precincts at an awards ceremony in Fresh Meadows’ Cunningham Park last weekend.
Patrol Borough Queens South held its “Auxiliary Police Appreciation Day” Sunday at the park, which is at Union Turnpike and Francis Lewis Boulevard in Fresh Meadows.
The NYPD paid tribute to 36 officers from nine precincts, as well as awarded 13 others from the auxiliary police’s Highway Unit No. 3, the community councils of the 103rd and 107th precincts and the Queens commissioner of the city Parks Department.
The auxiliary police are unpaid volunteer members of the NYPD who assist with parades, community events, traffic control and community patrols.
Sunday’s event also included a barbecue, rides and games.
State Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Little Neck) as well as City Councilmen Dan Halloran (R-Whitestone) and Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) congratulated the officers as they walked the platform to receive their awards.
“They are all volunteers,” Weprin said of the auxiliary force. “They are not officially recognized, so it’s wonderful they are being rewarded today.”
Officer Lonnie Glover of Springfield Gardens was one of four officers from the 105th Precinct to be honored.
“The 105th Precinct is the biggest command in the borough, so it’s a way to help out the regular police,” he said of his work with the precinct.
Glover said he is waiting to receive results of the test he took to become a sergeant.
A total of four officers from the 100th Precinct were honored as well as four each from the 101st, 102nd, 103rd, 106th, 107th and 113th precincts.
In addition, the NYPD gave awards to Angelo Maroulis, commanding officer of the auxiliary police, eight officers from its highway unit, 103rd Precinct Community Council President Donna Clopton, 107th Precinct Community Council President Carolann Foley and Queens Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
