A pair of detectives took home this month’s “Cop of the Month” award during the 104th Precinct Community Council (104PCC) meeting at the precinct command in Ridgewood on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
The precinct’s commander, Captain John Mastronardi, presented Detectives Christopher Gerardi and Jeffrey Rogers from the Detective Bureau with “Cop of the Month” honors for a Sept. 21 bust, where they apprehended four armed robbers.
“Normally I nominate police officers of the month from the command, the 104th Precinct, but these two individuals happen to be in the Detective Bureau,” Mastronardi said. “And because I have an excellent working relationship with them upstairs, I don’t feel they should be left out. And kudos to them because they do a fantastic job.”
According to Mastronardi, the incident took place at approximately 6 p.m. on Sept. 21, when three perpetrators roll up in front of a location with two firearms where they robbed three individuals of their cellphones and other personal items.
Detectives Gerardi and Rogers used the tracking numbers of the cellphones the thieves stole to locate them. They surveyed the area and apprehended four perpetrators without further incident and took the two firearms off the street.
Mastronardi said he could not get into too much more detail than that because the case is still active.
Gerardi, a 9 1/2-year veteran on the force, and Rogers, a 10-year veteran, were also honored by Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and Assemblyman Brian Barnwell with citations.
During the meeting, the 104PCC announced that this year’s “Cop of the Year” will be Police Officer Charles Sadler, one of the precinct’s Community Affairs Officers.
Sadler has been a big part of the community, helping residents with their local issues, answering phone calls and emails on specific problems, and helping out at community events and with community groups. During the 2017 Relay for Life at Juniper Valley Park, Sadler ran a full marathon around the track to help raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Sadler will be honored during the 104PCC Cop of the Year celebration which will be held at the end of January at the Knockdown Center in Maspeth. More details on the event are forthcoming.
