The Jamaica Rotary, under the leadership of President Joe Iaboni, is committed to doing good — and honoring those whose good work keeps Queens safe.
At this month’s meeting, where officers of Patrol Borough Queens South are feted for a job well done, the Rotary inducted an honorary member, a woman they helped to study abroad in Italy, but whose mother unfortunately passed away while she was there.
“I appreciate the Rotary because of the experience you gain,” she said. “I’m very appreciative of what they did for me.”
“Robberies is a crime that drives the precinct,” he noted. “The officers we honor are doing an excellent job of stopping robberies.”
It was on August 18 that Sergeant Hugh Black and Officer Paul Grub responded to a robbery at a grocery store. The pair, who knew of a similar robbery, apprehended one suspect but the other two fled and got into a house where there were two women and their children. Following a short standoff, the suspects voluntarily vacated the home; one was arrested, the other fled. And although they were not arrested in regards to a previous incident, officers feel they are connected to the robbery of a woman two days earlier.
“In the four boroughs I’ve worked in, no one has done so much to honor cops,” said 113th Precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Miltiadis Marmara of the Rotary.
He detailed how Officer William Clemens arrested a teen in connection with a break-in.
On August 11, the teen, with a prior record, allegedly broke a back window of a home in Addisleigh Park. The occupant inside called 9-1-1 and police responded within minutes, arresting the suspect. “Ever since he was arrested we haven’t had any other burglaries in the area,” noted Marmara.
Next, Deputy Inspector Armando DeLeon of the 102nd Precinct honored a hero cop — and a hero on the front lines.
On September 14, Officer Ryan Fais observed a suspicious-looking individual at 127th Street and 95th Avenue. When he heard that there had been a burglary, Fais pursued the man and his accomplices, who entered a woman’s home. Fais, who volunteered to be deployed, apprehended the suspects.
“Officer Fais is the epitome of what you call ‘squared away,’” said DeLeon.
In the 106th Precinct, Captain Thomas Pascale also honored a veteran.
In July, Pascale said, the command was battling burglaries and auto thefts. Officer David Marconi, a recent addition to the anti-crime team, observed a man wheeling a large compressor down the street at 3 a.m. at 109th Avenue and 116th Street. Marconi stopped the man and found out who the compressor rightfully belonged to. The 25-year-old perp — with 20 priors — was arrested and charged with burglary.
“To the men and women we honored — I’m so proud,” said Assistant Chief James Secreto, commanding officer of PBQS. “A common theme is that these cops are doing extra. I want to commend you for your dedication.”
Secreto noted that he is proud to be in partnership with Iaboni and the Jamaica Rotary, and reminded everyone in attendance about the upcoming Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, on Sunday, October 16 in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
To find out more or to register, visit makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR?sid=16393&type=fr_informational&pg=informational&fr_id=36016/
