By Bill Parry
When Deputy Inspector Michael Cody was transferred to an investigative assignment in the Bronx two weeks ago, the NYPD didn’t go very far to find his replacement as the commanding officer at the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights.
Capt. Brian Hennessy was moved over from the 108th Precinct in Long Island City, where he was at the helm for the last 18 months.
“It was a bit of a surprise. I didn’t know it was coming,” Hennessy said. “But I’m going back home. I was the executive officer at the 115th for two years before I got the assignment at the 108. Hennessy was second-in-command to Cody from 2011 to 2013.
“He was a very good man, a mentor of mine, and I learned a lot from him,” Hennessy said. The new commander is bringing some of the community-policing techniques he used effectively in the 108th Precinct to Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst and North Corona, where he plans to focus on the larger problems of gang violence, prostitution and bar enforcement.
City Councilman Daniel Dromm (D-Jackson Heights) said, “I think we’re lucky to have Capt. Hennessy and we welcome him back to the 115th with open arms. I hope he focuses on quality-of-life issues in the community and uses the impact zone in creative ways.”
The 115th Precinct is designated an impact zone, which brings more officers straight from the academy and gives the new commander more resources than he had at the 108th.
Hennessy enjoyed his brief time at the 108th, a smaller precinct that includes Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside and Maspeth.
“Those are great tight-knit neighborhoods with great community leaders and I’ll miss it,” he said.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.
