102nd Officer Honored for Nabbing 4 Suspects by Stephen Geffon - Queens Chronicle -

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Community Council President Maria Thomson, Deputy Inspector Armando DeLeon and Officer Jeff Strauber at the precinct meeting last week. PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFON

Officer Jeff Strauber of the 102nd Precinct was honored with the Cop of the Month award at the community council meeting last Thursday for his arrest of four individuals who police say stole a cell phone from a young man.

Strauber was patrolling Jamaica Avenue near 130th Street in Richmond Hill on April 10 at 1:30 a.m. when he heard through the police radio transmission that four men had robbed a young man walking along the avenue.

Deputy Inspector Armando DeLeon, commanding officer of the 102nd Precinct, said the four individuals surrounded the victim and swiped his cell phone.

DeLeon said that Strauber canvassed the nearby area, where he spotted the suspects.

The commanding officer noted the thieves did not flee from Strauber when he approached them.

Strauber apprehended the alleged perpetrators, and no one was injured.

“That was great work by Officer Strauber,” said DeLeon.

Police said the suspects were all charged with armed robbery.

Photos from 106th Precinct Community Council Meeting and Cop of the Month on April 13th...

At this month's 106 Precinct Community Council Meeting Commanding Officer Thomas Pascale introduced Lt. Christopher Charles, who is replacing retiring Lt. Joseph Salvato.

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Lt. Salvato was awarded the Cop of the Month for April for his 22+ years of service to the NYPD, the last five being at the 106th, he had served five previous years at this Precinct as Police Officer.

Community News & Notes from NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio...

STATEMENT BY PUBLIC ADVOCATE DE BLASIO ON MAYOR BLOOMBERG’S DECISION TO DELAY HIRING OF POLICE CADETS - April 13, 2011

“I strongly condemn Mayor Bloomberg’s decision to delay the hiring of over 500 police cadets, a move that will put the safety of New Yorkers at risk. This decision coupled with proposed budget cuts to the NYPD risks taking our police force back to the historic lows of the early 1990s. The progress we have made on reducing crime in the years since makes it clear that taking our police force backwards would be a dangerous mistake.”

STATEMENT BY PUBLIC ADVOCATE DE BLASIO ON DECISION TO HALT BAY RIDGE PARKWAY BIKE LANE - April 12, 2011

“I commend the Department of Transportation for responding to community concerns by halting its plans to install a bike lane in Bay Ridge. This was an important step forward that shows a willingness to respect the input of residents and community leaders. I challenge the Department to make listening to New Yorkers standard procedure and to be willing to incorporate community feedback into its projects.”

PARENTS AT UWS HIGH SCHOOL SUE CITY TO STOP CO-LOCATION - April 10, 2011

Lawsuit over lost classrooms, programs has backing of all UWS officials, Public Advocate

Parents of students at the Brandeis Educational Complex have filed a lawsuit in State Supreme Court to block the NYC Department of Education’s proposed co-location of a Charter Success Academy elementary school in their building. Parents have the backing of Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Councilmember Gale Brewer, Assemblymembers Linda Rosenthal and Danny O’Donnell, State Senator Adriano Espaillat, as well as Congressmen Jerry Nadler and Charles Rangel. Brandeis was recently reorganized from a single high school into four smaller, growing high schools. The plan to move an elementary school into the building would result in overcrowding and a loss of crucial science labs, classrooms, arts studios and music programs.

The lawsuit, filed in State Supreme Court on Friday, alleges that the Department of Education:

• Used inaccurate enrollment figures at affected high schools
• Wrongly categorized spaces like science labs and dance studios as ordinary classrooms
• Violated its own procedures for public notification and consultation
• Failed to assess the environmental impact of car and bus traffic from Success Charter Academy

“We believe that the Department of Education has not followed its own guidelines nor State charter laws in co-locating this elementary charter school in the Brandeis High School Complex,” said Lisa Steglich, Frank McCourt High School parent and lawsuit plaintiff. “A separate entrance, separate screening procedures, and a costly new and separate cafeteria for charter school students are not ‘comparable and equitable treatment.’ As parents of Frank McCourt High School students, we seek only to see that our children are treated fairly and are not relegated to second class status in their own school building.”

“After months of trying getting through to the Department of Education, these parents have only one option left: sue the City. As a public school parent and a public official, I wholeheartedly support the Brandeis community’s lawsuit. While it’s clear the Administration is bent on proceeding no matter what parents, teachers and leaders in this community say, I am hopeful we will find justice in the court system,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.

“I am fiercely and righteously opposed to the imposition of this charter school on our community,” said Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “This is not just another heated dispute about schools. It is a reprehensible land grab. Not only does this charter covet the new facilities that we created for our students at a cost of millions. They intend to divide our school and our community physically and culturally. It is morally wrong and bad school policy, but they think they will get away with it because DOE says they can. This court action is about stopping them.”

“We will show that the decision of the Panel for Educational Priorities was arbitrary and capricious, and should be declared invalid,” said Marc A. Landis, a Phillips Nizer partner and an Upper West Side parent-activist. “The Department of Education failed to meet its legal obligations when it overlooked the consequences of the proposed co-location on the existing high schools, failed to provide a sufficient educational impact statement, and failed to provide any environmental impact statement.”

“The voice of the people of our district is loud and clear: Success Academy does not belong in the Brandeis Campus,” said Ric Cherwin, Global Learning Collaborative Parent Association President. “Two of our schools have a very high proportion of special needs students who by law need extra space to be successful. With UWSA, these schools will have less space and their education will suffer. As has happened at other co-located schools with Success Academy, it becomes the haves vs. have-nots. Why would the DOE want to foster such a viral atmosphere?”

“The voices of the parents, students and community have been completely ignored throughout every step of this process,” said State Senator Adriano Espaillat. “A legal challenge is the final opportunity to ensure that these voices are heard, and provide the students at the four other schools of this complex an uninhibited educational experience, which must be our first priority."

“I stand in strong support of the students and their families who have filed suit against Success Academy Charter School," said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal. “Since this process began many months ago, I, along with a broad coalition of elected officials, community activists and concerned parents, have argued that the PEP process was rife with inadequacies, and PEP approval was based upon incorrect information. School District 3 needs more elementary and middle school seats, not a charter school, but it looks as though Success Academy will go to any lengths to open a charter school in a district that does not want it, and certainly does not need it.”

“DOE has once again neglected to give the community a full, meaningful role in a local siting decision. State law, carefully crafted by my colleagues and I, intends that the community is fully notified and actively involved in these decisions from the beginning; this assuredly did not occur for this co-location proposal,” said Assemblymember Daniel O’Donnell. “Additionally, the students and schools currently at the Brandeis Campus must not be denied the opportunity to grow and thrive, to offer vibrant arts, science, and physical education curricula, and to creatively instruct. All of this is threatened by the co-location under consideration.”

“I am deeply concerned that the recent decision of the Department of Education to co-locate the Success Academy Charter school on the Brandeis Educational Campus was undertaken without regard for the problems this co-location imposes on both the young students who will attend the new charter elementary school and students at the five recently-established and impressive high schools on the Brandeis campus,” said Congressman Jerry Nadler. “As parents and students seek to prove in the lawsuit filed this week, it seems that the DOE failed in its duty to take this impact into account in making their co-location decision, despite repeated calls by parents, students and elected officials to do so.”

“The DOE needs to address the parents' concerns at Brandeis and elsewhere to ensure that every child has the full access to adequate classroom, arts and recreation space,” said Congressman Charles Rangel.

“Why is the DOE spending millions of dollars to squeeze in and to segregate four and five year old Success Charter students within a dedicated high school building? Worse, why are the DOE and Ms Moskowitz spending millions in taxpayer dollars bombarding Upper West Side parents with flyers and ads denigrating our local schools? It just shows that the Mayor’s and the DOE's priorities lie with the hedge-fund driven Charter schools rather than with the 96% who attend our traditional public schools,” said Noah E Gotbaum, President, CEC3.

The suit was filed by parents from the Global Learning Collaborative, Innovation Diploma Plus and Frank McCourt High Schools, who are being represented pro bono publico by Marc A. Landis, Jon Schuyler Brooks and Meagan Zapotocky of Phillips Nizer LLP. A court will hear the case on May 4th.

106 Pct Community Council Meeting - March 9th, 2011...Cop of the Month

Council President Frank Dardani, Detective Orin Cox, Captain Thomas Pascale and PO Kevin Desormeau...

Members of the 106 Pct Explorer  troop with Officer Brenda Brascher were honored at the meeting...

Cops Who Nabbed Burglar Honored by 102 Precinct Community Council by Stephen Geffon - Queens Chronicle

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102nd Precinct Community Council President Maria Thomson, left, Precinct Executive Officer Capt. Martin Briffa, and police officers Jose Severino and Ashana Kelly at the meeting.PHOTO BY STEPHEN GEFFON

Two 102nd Precinct police officers who captured an alleged burglar reportedly responsible for a string of thefts throughout the community were awarded with the Cop of the Month award last week.

Officers Jose Severino and Ashana Kelly were honored at the 102nd Precinct Community Council’s meeting, during which Precinct Executive Officer Capt. Martin Briffa and Precinct Community Council President Maria Thomson presented the two individuals with the award for January.

Briffa said police received a 911 call on Jan. 25 at 4 p.m. about a suspicious individual knocking on a door at an apartment building in the vicinity of 126th Street and 86th Avenue in Richmond Hill.

After the individual received no response at the door, he allegedly went around the building and climbed up the fire escape to enter the resident’s apartment, Briffa said.

The captain said officers Saverino and Kelly responded to the location and set up a perimeter at the front and rear of the building.When they heard noise inside the apartment, they entered and captured the suspect, according to Briffa.

Police believe they will be able to close 17 open burglary cases thanks to the arrest because the defendant allegedly committed that many, Briffa said.

Police noted the perpetrator in the other 17 cases had used the fire escape to enter the building, as the individual arrested by Savarino and Kelly had done.

Four burglaries were reported in the 102nd Precinct during the week ending Feb. 6, according to city crime statistics.

House Passes Weiner Amendment to Restore Funding To Keep Police Officers on the Streets

Bipartisan Rebuke of GOP Budget Plan

Today, with 70 Republicans joining 158 Democrats in a bipartisan rebuke of the GOP budget plan, the House passed an amendment by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D – Queens and Brooklyn) that restores $298 million in funding to the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring program, allowing over 1,300 officers to remain on the street.

“We all agree that we need to reduce the deficit, but we need to get our priorities straight. Unfortunately, the Republicans still don’t get it – we can’t play games with our safety,” Rep. Weiner said. “This was a bipartisan rebuke of the GOP budget plan.”

Weiner is a long-time champion of the COPS program, which was created in 1994 to put more police officers on the streets, sponsoring its reauthorization in Congress for the last the four years. In 2009, the House passed Weiner's COPS bill, which would add 50,000 new beat cops to streets over 5 years.

Officers Honored for Nabbing Car Thieves by Stephen Geffon - Queens Chronicle

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Frank Dardani, left, president of the 106th Precinct Community Council, officers Andrew Spina and Jennifer Martinez, and Capt. Thomas Pascale, commanding officer of the 106th. PHOTO BY DAVID QUINTANA

Auto thefts have increased significantly across the borough, according to south Queens’ top cop, Assistant Chief James Secreto.

But a recent arrest of three alleged auto thieves in the 106th Precinct by police officers Andrew Spina and Jennifer Martinez may well have put a dent in the problem.

The two officers were honored last week with the Cop of the Month Award for November at the community council meeting for their efforts in getting the alleged perpetrators off the street and recovering the vehicle with no injuries to police or the public.

“These officers are to be commended,” said Capt. Thomas Pascale, commanding officer of the 106th Precinct.

According to Pascale, on Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 6:30 p.m. a resident was loading packages into her Honda CRV while at the Aqueduct Flea Market with the keys left inside the vehicle. Pascale said that while the victim was occupied elsewhere, three individuals took off in her car.

The Cops of the Month with family members and significant others and Captain Pascale.

The captain said that a week later, on Nov. 30, Spina and Martinez while on patrol spotted the stolen Honda going eastbound on Rockaway Boulevard at 127th Street. The officers safely stopped the car at 140th Street and found it to be occupied by three individuals under the age of 16, according to Pascale. The individuals were then placed under arrest.

The plaques awarded to the officers read in part, “In recognition of this fine police officers’ dedication to duty and ideals of our community.”

106 Pct Cop of the Month - December 13, 2010...

Council President Frank Dardani, PO Spino, PO Martinez and Captain Pascale (left to right)

Officers Spino and Martinez with Family and Significant Other and Captain Pascale

New Commanding Officer at 106th Precinct by Steve Mosco - The Queens Courier

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The torch – and the pin – was passed to a new leader at the 106th Precinct.

At its monthly meeting, a new Commanding Officer (CO) was introduced at the 106th Precinct in Ozone Park on Wednesday, November 10.

Deputy Inspector, and outgoing CO, Joseph Courtesis addressed those gathered at the meeting for the last time. He said that while the move is good for his career, he’s leaving with a heavy heart.

He spent more than three years at the 106th Precinct and said that he made some tremendous friends, not only at the stationhouse, but also in the community at large.

“This is my community and I tried to handle all complaints, big and small, with as much attention as possible. The effort was always there,” said Courtesis, who is moving on to the 105th Precinct in Queens Village. “This is a good move career wise, but it is bittersweet because I have to actually move on.”

The new CO, Captain Thomas Pascale, spent some time in 106 as a sergeant from 2000 through 2004, and feels that since he knows many people at the precinct his transition will be a smooth one.

“I feel like I got a great deal on a used car,” said Pascale, who received the CO’s pin from Courtesis. “A lot of the same people in key positions are still here and that will help with the learning curve.”

The captain then introduced the precinct’s Cop of the Month, Officer Kevin Desmoreau. At 9:30 p.m. on October 20, Desmoreau was performing anti-crime patrol on Sutter Avenue when he saw a suspicious male following two females.

Captain Thomas Pascale, Police Officer Kevin Desmoreau and Community Council President Frank Dardani

After stopping the suspect, Desmoreau frisked him and found a firearm. A struggle and foot pursuit followed, and ended with the Officer apprehending the suspect.

“Fantastic work,” said Pascale. “His work shows the phenomenal work that’s being done out there by officers such as himself.”

Upon further investigation, it was found that the suspect had a previous firearm charge against him. The Precinct will now track him to make sure he’s not involved with these types of illegal activities.

At the end of the meeting, Community Board 10 chair Betty Braton announced an outreach event being held at Aqueduct Racetrack on Friday, November 19. The Subcontractor Outreach Event for Minority, Women and Locally-Owned Business Enterprises (M/W/LBEs) will feature representatives from Resorts World New York and Tutor Perini Corp. They will provide substantial contractual opportunities to any interested M/W/LBEs who specialize in the building construction industry.

Those interested in attending should R.S.V.P. by Wednesday, November 17 at www.spectrumpcc.com/RWNYOutreach/rsvp.html.

Officers Honored for Breaking Up Large Fight in Ozone Park by Stephen Geffon -Leader-Observer

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Sergeant John Egan (center) was honored with the Cop of the Month award Community Council President Frank Dardani (left) and Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis

Sergeant John Egan of the 106th Precinct was honored with the Cop of the Month award for September at last week’s Community Council meeting for single-handedly saving a young lady from a large unruly crowd, according to Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis, commanding officer of the Precinct.

On Sunday, September 26, at 2 a.m., Egan was on his way home from work when he noticed a large crowd at Eckford Avenue and Centerville Street in Ozone Park. According to Courtesis approximately 40 to 50 individuals were fighting, with six or seven separate groups involved in the melee. Egan called 911 and requested backup. While awaiting backup, he observed that the fight had become increasingly more violent with the crowd hitting each other with milk crates, garbage cans and whatever else they could get their hands on.

Courtesis said that although Egan’s common sense told him to wait for more officers to arrive, the situation was getting more and more out of control. At one point the crowd broke the window of a vehicle and pulled a female out of the car and began to violently beat her with weapons. Egan couldn’t wait any longer. He waded into the crowd and pulled the alleged perpetrators off the girl and got her to safety. Egan then identified himself as a New York City police officer and requested that they all disburse the area. Courtesis said that at this point eight to ten perpetrators turned on Egan.

When backup arrived, Officer John Demauro, with the assistance of other officers, was able to arrest one of the alleged perpetrators who allegedly assaulted Egan. Courtesis said the suspect, who was held on $10,000 bail, was currently on probation in Florida for heroin trafficking. Egan received multiple injuries in the attack, and just returned to work on October 12.

“Sergeant Egan’s actions exemplify bravery at its highest, and I am proud to honor him as Cop of the Month,” said Courtesis.

Police Officer John Demauro was also honored by Inspector Courtesis and the 106th Precinct Community Council for his actions on September 26.

Police Nab Howard Beach Graffiti Perp by Stephen Geffon - Queens Chronicle

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Members of the 106th Precinct conditions team were honored Sept. 9 for their efforts in capturing an alleged graffiti vandal with the tag “Nick Nasty,” who had damaged numerous buildings in Howard Beach.

Police Officers Michael Baio, Frank Calafiore, Matthew Steiner, Andres Gonzalez, John Tripodi, Joseph Osolin and Sgt. Brian Goldberg received the Community Council’s August 2010 Cop of the Month award given by the precinct commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis and Council President Frank Dardani.

The vandal had defaced over 15 locations in Howard Beach during June and July, including the Bernard Fineson Developmental Center. The inspector said the graffiti “Nasty” put on buildings were sometimes very distasteful.

“He had to be stopped,” said Courtesis.

According to Courtesis, the perpetrator was upset about a recent breakup with his girlfriend and decided to defame her all over town.

The inspector said the suspect confessed to all of his graffiti crimes.

Courtesis said that during the evening of July 21, the officers stopped and questioned a group of young adults on Crossbay Boulevard who said they had videotaped the perpetrator tagging one of the businesses in Howard Beach.

At 156th Avenue and Crossbay Boulevard, the officers spotted an individual parked in a car. Courtesis said that when questioned, he said he had witnessed the graffiti vandal tagging the building and had noted the perpetrator’s license plate number.

Inspector Courtesis said that with the license plate number and the video in hand the officers were able to identify the graffiti vandal.

NYPD 106 Pct Community Council Meeting - September 8th - Cop of the Month Award...

The 106 Precinct Community Council met on September 8th...The Cop of the Month Award went to the Conditions Unit...

Cop of the Month Award
106 Pct Conditions Unit
September 2010
Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis and Community Council President Frank Dardani with the 106 Pct Conditions Unit...

Honorees:

Sgt Brian Goldberg

PO Andez Gonzalez

PO Matthew Steiner

PO Frank Calafiore

PO Michael Baio

PO Joseph Osolin

PO John Tripodi

Slideshow:

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Community Comes Out Against Crime by Stephen Geffon - Queens Chronicle

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An estimated 500 residents came out on Tuesday evening to take part in the 106th Precinct and Precinct Community Council’s 27th annual National Night Out Against Crime at Joseph P. Addabbo Park in Tudor Village. Residents took in lively music and entertainment provided by Beat 2 Beat NYC and feasted on a smorgasbord of hot dogs, cookies, candy, popcorn, ice cream and drinks.

The event also featured crime prevention displays, demonstrations of police resources, VIN etching, child fingerprinting, safety information and informational displays by local organizations and businesses.

Members of the West Hamilton Beach Volunteer Fire Department and New York City Fire Department gave delighted groups of children tours of their fire trucks.

“National Night Out gives the residents of our community the opportunity to enjoy social time with our police precincts,while also allowing the time to highlight the need of working together to make our neighborhood a safer place and to address other public safety issues,” said state Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach).

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Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Ozone Park) agreed, saying, “National Night Out is a significant event not only for our community, but for the entire nation. This event raises awareness for crime and drug prevention and strengthens the neighborhood spirit and police-community relationships.I once again welcome the chance to participate in this event bringing our community together in the fight against crime.”

“National Night Out is always a fun event. It provides a great opportunity for area residents to gather crime prevention information while having a good time spending time with their neighbors in a local park in support of safe neighborhoods and our police department,” said Betty Braton, chairwoman of Community Board 10.

The 102nd Precinct in partnership with the 102nd Precinct Community Council held its National Night Out Against Crime Tuesday evening at Buddy Memorial in Forest Park, Richmond Hill. That event featured live music and entertainment by Heartbreak Station, free food and refreshments, as well as exhibits by police units.

Maria Thomson, president of the 102nd Precinct Community Council, said the event brought residents out in support of the police. “Every day they are out there risking their lives fighting crime on our behalf to protect us,” she said.

National Night Out, an annual event sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, was introduced in 1984. NNO is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness; generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Leader-Observer - Cop Honored for Getting Gun Off the Street by Stephen Geffon - Leader-Observer

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Police Officer Joseph Lamonica of the 106th Precinct was honored with July's Cop of the Month award at last week’s Precinct Community Council meeting for his arrest of two individuals allegedly in possession of a loaded weapon, according to Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis, the precinct's commanding officer.

On Sunday, July 4, at 10:15 p.m., Lamonica and his partners were patrolling in one of the precinct’s unmarked fireworks suppression autos on Crossbay Boulevard in Ozone Park, when Lamonica observed a suspicious vehicle that appeared to be casing the area in the vicinity of Gold Street. Lamonica saw the passenger of the auto speak to six young girls, who appeared to be about 12 years old, and then the operator of the vehicle made an illegal U-turn. Lamonica pulled him over for the violation and decided to investigate the situation further.

Courtesis said Lamonica believed that the girls were going to be robbed by the occupants of the vehicle. As the officer approached the vehicle, the passenger attempted to immediately exit the vehicle, raising a red flag to the officers. Both the driver and the passenger appeared very nervous and desperate to distance themselves from the vehicle. When Lamonica looked into the vehicle to see if there were other passengers, he spotted a black-and-silver, fully loaded 9mm firearm lying unattended on the floor by the back seat.

According to Courtesis, the weapon had been reported stolen in Alabama. Both individuals were placed under arrest, possibly thwarting an armed robbery or worse.

One of the suspects had eight prior arrests including two for robbery, two for grand larceny and two for felonious assault, said Courtesis, who noted that the suspect had been arrested two days prior for robbing a female of a cell phone. Both suspects were held on $25,000 bail.

106th Precinct Cop of the Month - Police Officer Joe Lamonica

106th Precinct Community Council  President Frank Dardani, Police Officer Joe Lamonico and Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis (left-right)

 
Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis presented the Cop of the Month Award to Police Officer Joe Lamonica at the 106th Precinct Community Council meeting held on July 14th...

106th Officer Honored for Interrupting Car Theft by Stephen Geffon - Leader-Observer

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Pictured are Frank Dardani (left), Officer Filip Glowa (center), and Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis.

Officer Filip Glowa of the 106th Precinct was honored with the Cop of the Month award for May at last week’s Community Council meeting for his arrest of three individuals allegedly in the process of stealing a motor vehicle, according to Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis, commanding officer of the 106th Precinct.

On Tuesday, May 25, at 11 a.m. Officer Glowa, who is assigned to the precinct’s Anti-crime Unit, was patrolling the southeastern portion of the precinct bordering the Van Wyck Expressway looking for auto theft suspects.

Courtesis said that on 134th Street between Sutter and 131st Avenues in South Ozone Park, Officer Glowa observed three men attempting to load a 2004 Ford Focus onto a tow truck. The inspector added that Glowa, well aware that this area had seen a spike in auto thefts, decided to investigate further.

He asked the individuals what was wrong with the vehicle and why it was being towed. One of the individuals claimed it was his car and he was having it removed from his property. According to Courtesis, the tow truck operator produced an MV-35 signed by one of the individuals who was at the scene. The inspector explained that an MV-35 is a state motor vehicle form prepared when an individual does not have the car’s title.

Courtesis said Officer Glowa felt something was wrong, since it is common for scrappers to forge the MV-35s and bring the car to a dismantler, where it can be cashed in for the weight of the metal in the vehicle.

The inspector said that during Glowa’s investigation the true owner of the vehicle came home and wanted to know why his vehicle was being loaded onto a tow truck.

The three individuals were arrested. Courtesis said the tow truck operator had 11 prior arrests and was on parole until 2016, and had seven prior auto theft arrests. The inspector said the second individual had eight prior arrests, five of which were violent felony arrests. Courtesis said the individual who was claiming that the car was his had seven prior arrests.

Another Gun Off the Streets by Stephen Geffon - Leader-Observer

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Police Officer Matthew Peters was honored with the 106th Precinct Cop of the Month award for April at last week’s Community Council meeting for his arrest of four individuals in possession of a loaded semi-automatic handgun, according to Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis, commanding officer of the 106th Precinct.

On Saturday, April 17, at 9:30 p.m., the 106th Precinct received several 911 calls of a large dispute at 134th Street and 105th Avenue in South Richmond Hill. Police Officer Matthew Peters and his partner were dispatched to the location.

On arrival at the scene, the officers observed a large group of males surrounding a parked white Toyota Camry creating a loud commotion. Upon spotting the officers, the individuals in the Toyota started to drive away and the group of males who had surrounded the vehicle started to disburse.

Peters and his partner followed and car and pulled it over on 105th Avenue. As they approached the stopped vehicle they observed that it was occupied by four males who appeared nervous and evasive. At this time, Officer Peters and his partner ordered the occupants out of the vehicle.

Peering into the Toyota the officers observed a 9mm semi-automatic handgun on the floor in the rear of the vehicle, said Courtesis. The inspector said the four males, whose ages ranged from 15 to 20 years of age, were placed under arrest for possession of the loaded firearm.

“The actions of Officer Peters and his partner not only took the loaded semi-automatic firearm off the street, but based on our intelligence we believe that they most certainly prevented a shooting and most likely a homicide at that location,” said Courtesis.

NYPD 106 Precinct Cop of the Month Award for March 2010...

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"Cops of the Month"...Police Officer Shawn Phillips and Police Officer Stephen T. Betts (center l-r) with Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis and Community Council President Frank Dardani...

Hero Cop Tackled Attacker at Ozone Park Nightspot by Stephen Geffon - Queens Chronicle

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Sgt. John Egan, second from right, was presented with the 106th Precinct’s Cop of the Month award by his commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis, right, and 106th Community Council President Frank Dardani, second from left

In recognition of his excellent police work, Sgt. John Egan was honored with the 106th Precinct’s Cop of the Month award for December 2009.

On Friday, Oct. 30 at 2 a.m. Egan was at the precinct’s front desk when he heard a report on the police radio of an unruly crowd of more than 100 individuals in front of the Chemistry Lounge, located at 98-07 Liberty Ave., in Ozone Park.

Arriving at the scene, Egan witnessed an individual frantically swinging a knife at the crowd, which included police officers. Several cops with guns drawn ordered the suspect, who had already stabbed two people, to drop the knife.

The knife-wielder refused and continued to swing the weapon back and forth to clear a path for his escape. Egan, who by then had gotten behind the individual, tackled him, wrestled the knife from his hand and placed him under arrest.

“Sgt. Egan’s actions exemplify extreme bravery,” said Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis, adding, “He put his own safety at risk to protect his fellow officers [and the public].” Courtesis noted that considering the extreme situation, Egan probably also saved the alleged perpetrator’s life.

106th Precinct Community Council Meeting - November 11th, 2009

Deputy Inspector Joseph Courtesis (right) presented the Cop of the Month award to Detective Nathaniel Tauber (center) with Community Council President Frank Dardani (left)...