The fatal beating of Anthony Collao drew media attention and outrage.
And for their good police work in apprehending the suspects wanted in connection with the crime, the Jamaica Rotary honored Officers Richard Bond and Michael Negron of the 102nd Precinct.
The monthly meeting also paid homage to outstanding officers of the 103rd, 106th and 113th Precincts by awarding them the Edward Byrne memorial plaque.
“I always leave here inspired,” said Chief James Secreto, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens South. “Eddie Byrne [only 22 years old and newly assigned to the 103rd Precinct, was fatally shot in the head on February 26, 1988] would have been proud to stand side-by-side with the people honored here today. We have great people working for us. I’m proud of them.”
Bond and Negron, with a combined 37 years of experience – all in the 102nd Precinct – apprehended Nolis Ogando, 17, Luis Tabales, 17, Alex Velez, 16, Christopher Lozada, 17, and Calvin Pietri, 17, in the fatal beating of Collao. They also recovered a bloody pipe. The five suspects face charges of gang assault in the first degree, manslaughter in the first degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
Deputy Inspector Charles McEvoy, commanding officer of the 103rd Precinct, honored Officer Kevin Isernia and Sergeant Frank Demma for stopping what he said would have been a retaliation killing.
“The 103rd took the last homicide of 2010 –a 26-year-old was shot and killed at Merrick Boulevard and 109th Road as a result of a bad marijuana purchase. There was a strong belief there was going to be retaliation,” said McEvoy.
The officers’ surveillance led to seven arrests and the recovery of numerous handguns, a bullet-proof vest, crack, marijuana and an imitation gun. According to McEvoy, the two responsible for the original murder have been indicted and are still in prison.
In the 113th Precinct, Deputy Inspector Kristel Johnson feted Officers Daniel Brandi, Gregory Michels and Irene Delgado for their efforts in apprehending two perps in connection with a shooting.
On March 16, Johnson said, a boyfriend and girlfriend got into an argument which escalated into a physical altercation. She allegedly got a gun; a second person then showed up and the victim was shot. The two suspects are still in jail.
Officer Kevin Desormeau and Detective Orin Cox were also praised for “unbelievable, good police work” by 106th Precinct Captain Thomas Pascale.
Desormeau was driving eastbound on 111th Avenue with Cox in the passenger seat on Saturday, January 29. The pair spotted a suspicious person. They drove closer to the man and Cox dangled his shield out the window. The man then said, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to be here that long, I’m leaving.”
Desormeau then starts to get out the car; meanwhile, 15 feet away from the officers, the man pulls out a revolver from his waistline and starts to shoot. After firing, the man ran and a chase ensued. The officers reached the man near a backyard, blocks away from the original scene, with help of other police. The person violently resisted arrest and Cox recovered a revolver and an additional 89 loose rounds of ammunition inside a box.
“He [the perp] could have done a lot of damage that day,” said Pascale.
“The police are doing a great job protecting our lives, our homes and our communities,” said Jamaica Rotary president Joe Iaboni, also recently named president of the Ronald Reagan Republican Club in Howard Beach.
A special guest of the meeting, a rep for the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA), then thanked the Rotary for their generous donation of a Costco gift card to a Brooklyn family with eight children whose house burned down in a fire.
“Joe is a stand-up guy and so is the Jamaica Rotary,” he said.
Upcoming events the Rotary noted are:
The Patrol Borough Queens South Talent Show – May 26
Rotary party – June 11
