a Familiar Face Takes the Helm

112th Council Greets New Commander

The new commanding officer of the 112th Precinct was formally introduced to the Forest Hills/Rego Park area during the 112th Precinct Community Council’s meeting last Wednesday, Sept. 19-and his face was familiar to many longtime residents in attendance at the Forest Hills stationhouse.

Det. Gregory Bahrenberg (second from right) of the 112th Precinct Detective Squad was presented with the Cop of the Month award at last Wednesday’s 112th Precinct Community Council meeting in Forest Hills for his efforts to track down a man who allegedly burglarized several synagogues in the neighborhood. The detective was presented with a plaque by Capt. Thomas Conforti (second from left), the 112th Precinct’s new commanding officer; Assistant Chief Diana Pizzuti (at left) and Precinct Council President Heidi Harrison Chain.

Capt. Thomas Conforti, who last served at the 112th Precinct back in 2004 while he was a lieutenant, took the reins of the command earlier this month from Deputy Inspector Christopher Tamola, who was reassigned to Patrol Borough Queens North.

Having previously worked with Conforti, 112th Precinct Community Council President Heidi Harrison Chain was excited to learn of his return to the precinct as its new top cop. “I knew him when he was a lieutenant. I gave him awards as a lieutenant, and I was jumping up and down when I heard he was [returning] here.”

Conforti, who previously served with NYPD operations at Citi Field, stated that since his return, he had been asked repeatedly about what has changed in the years since he last served at the 112th Precinct.

“The same issues back then are the same issues now,” he said, noting that grand larcenies remain the most persistent crime police are battling in the area.

“It’s primarily theft issues with the computer,” Conforti added, as the command has taken reports identity theft and fraudulent transactions made by individuals who open credit card accounts in the names of unsus-