Breaking up dog fighting rings and making huge drug busts were among some of the situations that cops in south Queens had to combat in October.
And to show support for all they do, the Jamaica Rotary Club honored officers from the 102nd, 103rd, 105th, 106th and 113th precincts at a recent club meeting.
“The cops are the angels of our community and most of the time they are taken for granted,” said Joe Iaboni, president of the Jamaica Rotary Club. “It shouldn’t be that way. They should be honored for all they do.”
The precinct commanders introduced their respective honorees and detailed the circumstances of the awards.
In the 113th Precinct, Sgt. William Tergesen and P.O. Kenneth Sepolveda broke up a pitbull fighting ring in Jamaica.
The officers seized a slew of items associated with dog fighting, including steel link chains, treadmills and steroids. There were around 20 dogs used in the fighting ring, cops later learned.
In the 105th Precinct, Sgt. John Collins and P.O. Anthony Bartolies were making a routine traffic stop when they noticed the suspect had several packets of marijuana falling from his pocket.
Upon arresting him, the motorist pleaded with the officers to return to his home and check on his 8-year-old son who was home alone.
Once in the apartment the officers found 30 pounds of marijuana, assault rifles, banana clips and hand guns. The man also had 29 prior arrests.
In the 106th Precinct, P.O. John Sforza and P.O. Daniel Rivera noticed a bar fight taking place on Liberty Avenue. They arrested a father-and-son duo, who were trying to rob a man who had just left the bar.
In the 103rd Precinct, Officers Daniel Haggerty and Jacob Gianelli stopped a car for a traffic violation and smelled marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The motorist drove off and the officers went in pursuit. Once they caught him, he attempted to pull out a .25-caliber handgun, but the officers were able to nab him before he was able to use it.
In the 102nd Precinct, P.O. William Chan and Sgt. Gerard Abrams tracked down two murder suspects using surveillance from a homicide in a club on Atlantic Avenue.
“These officers do important work day in and day out,” said Deputy Chief Galen Frierson, executive officer of Patrol Borough Queens South, at the Oct. 29 Rotary meeting. “They are here to serve the community and reach out to those in need.”
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