BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO
In precincts across the city, NYPD officers are donning pink in a show of support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the month of October, officers will incorporate pink into their wardrobes, vehicles and precinct houses in an effort to encourage women struggling with breast cancer, as well as to draw attention to the disease.
Precincts throughout the city have come up with creative ways to sport the color, from pink socks at the 100th Precinct in Rockaway to the pink striped police cruiser at the 112th Precinct in Forest Hills.
The color pink is currently on full display at the 104th Precinct on Catalpa Ave. in Ridgewood. A large banner donated by the 104th Precinct Community Council hangs above the precinct’s front door in an effort to draw attention to the cause. Officers also draped the precinct fence in a pink bunting and volunteered to paint the garage door with a giant pink ribbon.
To bring further attention to the cause in a dramatic way, the entire precinct façade will be bathed in bright pink spotlights each night throughout October.
Pink is also proudly displayed throughout the precinct. The large front desk is wrapped in pink fabric with smaller pink ribbons pinned to it. Officers have also opted to paint their collar brass numbers pink, as well as don pink NYPD shoulder patches in a show of support to the community. Pink ribbons also adorn the fronts of police cars, vans and cruisers in the command.
“How we look at it here is with all of these signs and these reminders, is if we could just help save one life through early detection,” explained Executive Commanding Officer Captain Mark Wachter.
Residents and community members have also gotten involved in outfitting the precinct in pink. Tony Nunziata, owner of Enchanted Florist on Grand Ave. in Maspeth, donated pots of pink mums and ribbons to adorn the precinct steps. A local artist also volunteered to paint pink ribbons on the windows of the first floor of the precinct beneath the bold NYPD letters.
“All of this came from people in the community,” Wachter added. “This is an idea not only for the police, but also for the community. We want to invite community members to come to the precinct and tie ribbons to the railing here either in memory of a loved one, or just to say hey, we’re aware of it or we care.”
This fight to raise awareness and increase early detection of breast cancer hit home for Wachter. “My wife is currently fighting breast cancer, so this something on a personal note also,” he explained. “But we have a lot of people in this precinct, too, family and friends. It’s something that’s on a lot of our minds.”
Precincts throughout the department have taken to social media to post photos of their pink attire and accessories along with the hashtag #NYPDBlueGoesPink as part of a friendly competition in which precincts compete for the honor of “Pinkest Precinct” in the city.
Captain Wachter also encourages people in the community to tie pink ribbons to their houses, stoops and trees, as well as to wear pink, in order to bring awareness to the situation. He also invited residents to attend a special rally to be held at the precinct on Thursday, October 22nd at 9 am in which children from P.S. 88 will come and hold signs of support for breast cancer victims and survivors. The precinct is also selling t-shirts with proceeds going toward breast cancer foundations and support groups.
“It’s not only about the pinkest precinct, but the pinkest community,” Wachter explained. “We call it a contest or a competition, but in the end there are no losers. Everybody’s a winner.”
