Hailed For A Distinguished Career
An officer from the 75th Precinct who was killed in the line of duty while responding to a home invasion in Cypress Hills last December was posthumously honored at the 22nd annual law enforcement appreciation awards breakfast ceremony hosted by Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes last Wednesday, May 23.
Det. Peter Figoski was a highly decorated police officer for 22 years with the NYPD, working his entire career for the 75th Precinct in East New York. He had been awarded 12 medals, including eight for exceptional police duty. He made more than 200 arrests in his career.
Detective Figoski could have retired with a full pension, but Hynes noted that he was dedicated to his job, helping to keep the streets of Brooklyn safe.
On Dec. 12, 2011, Figoski was re- sponding to a burglary in progress in a basement apartment on Pine Street in Cypress Hills with a team of officers. Two suspects were hiding inside the apartment when the cops arrived.
Lamont Pride allegedly tried to escape when he encountered Figoski. As previously reported, Pride allegedly shot the officer at close range in the face, killing him.
Meanwhile, P.O. Glenn Estrada, Figoski’s partner, was struggling with the second suspect. When Estrada heard the gunshot, he pursued Pride, who was trying to flee, and chased him several blocks before capturing him.
Five defendants have been indicted in this case including Pride, who is charged with murder in the first degree. The other four defendants- each of whom hail from Ozone Park-have been indicted for murder in the second degree.
Figoski was promoted posthumously by Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly to the rank of detective.
The late officer was among 21 individuals honored at last Wednesday’s breakfast, including members of the Police and Fire Departments, the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, Brooklyn Criminal Court, and the Bridge and Tunnel Officers Benevolent Association. Each was recognized for their bravery, diligence, dedication to the job and involvement in the community. The ceremony was emceed by Juliet Papa from 1010 WINS radio.
“The officers that were recognized at today’s ceremony are exceptional men and women who put their lives on the line every day,” said Hynes last Wednesday. “I believe that we have some of the best law enforcement officers in the country and they deserve to be honored. They play a significant role in keeping Brooklyn safe.”
Among the other honorees included the following:
– P.O. Jean Sigue and DA’s Squad Detective Carey Juste, both of whom played a huge role in the relief efforts of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti in 2010.
– Lt. Jordan Brofsky and Police Officers Sean Feliciano and Richard Vargas of the 60th Precinct’s Anti- Crime Team, who cuffed a shooting suspect following a pursuit on Apr. 1, 2011 in Coney Island, during which Brofsky was fired upon by the suspect.
– Court Officer Robert Keane, who came to the assistance of a man who was having a seizure outside the Brooklyn Criminal Court House on Oct. 19, 2011.
– Fire Marshal Mark Thompson, whose investigation of a fire and explosion at a beauty salon on Van Buren Street in Bedford-Stuyvesant led to the arrest of the alleged arsonist who set the blaze.
– Sgt. Michael Miller of the 81st Precinct, who stopped a suspect who, while resisting arrest, pulled out a gun and attempted to shoot him.
– Deputy Chief Gerald Dieckmann, commanding officer of Housing Borough Brooklyn from 2005 to 2012, who is credited for helping to lower major crime by nearly 15 percent in 80 public housing developments throughout Brooklyn.
– District Attorney’s Community Aide Juan Vallejo, who helped stop a purse snatcher at the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall subway station on May 24, 2011.
– MTA Bridge and Tunnel P.O. Anthony Presley, who was assaulted and shot while attempting to thwart an armed robbery of an auto repair shop in Bedford-Stuyvesant on Apr. 17, 2011.
– Police Officers Julius Hudson, William Cooper, Donnell Graves, Anthony
Isaac, Francis Ainoo and Jeremy Catania, who were honored for their particpation in Cops and Kids athletic events throughout the year.
– P.O. Ydreesah Bey of NYPD Transit District 32, who stopped a pair of female suspects involved in a cell phone theft pattern along the 3 subway line.
Detective Investigator Robert Addonizio, who participated in a federal investigation that led to the arrest of suspects who were plotting a terrorist attack on fuel tanks and a fuel pipeline at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
– Supervising Probation Officer Arlene Smith, who participated in a number of community outreach programs such as a recent gun buyback initiative.
