The Metropolitan Transportation Authority last Friday honored 30 New York City Transit workers—including four who call Queens home—with medals and commendations at its annual ceremony recognizing employees for their acts of bravery and distinguished service that showed how they performed above and beyond their duties to help customers, their colleagues or the public.
The four borough residents who received awards at the downtown Brooklyn fete for specific acts of bravery, quick thinking in potentially dangerous or fatal situations, and for excellent service in day-to-day operations were Naomi Andino of South Ozone Park; Robert Esposito of Rockaway Point; Nathan Jenkins of Bellerose; and Jason Prashad of Hollis.
“Every act we celebrate shows us a glimpse of how we would like to be all the time—selfless, compassionate and courageous. I thank all our medalists for giving us that glimpse and inspiring us,” said NYC Transit President Carmen Bianco.
Awards were presented in three areas: heroism: for employees who perform specific acts of bravery, on or off duty, in the face of extremely dangerous circumstances that could have resulted in personal injury or death; commendations: for job-related acts involving personal risk or requiring exceptional judgment. The employee’s decisions and actions indicate that, without quick thinking and corrective measures, highly undesirable and dire consequences could have resulted; distinguished service: for employees who have demonstrated outstanding efficiency that reflects the highest standards and ideals of a dedicated public employee.
Andino, a conductor, received an award, along with Train Operator Joaquin Lopez, for preventing a perpetrator from fleeing the scene of an assault. Esposito, a special inspector, earned his award for apprehending a robbery suspect. Bus Operator Jenkins was honored for reviving a co-worker who was suffering a heart attack. And Jason Prashad, also a conductor, received an award for reporting a robbery in progress and assisting police in the arrest.
Nominations for honorees were sent to the MTA’s Employee Recognition Program Committee, which selected workers that met the committee’s criteria in the three categories.
Other honorees included an off-duty special inspector who helped apprehend a man threatening subway customers with bodily harm; two car cleaners who found an autistic boy reported missing from his home and notified authorities to reunite him with his family; and a Staten Island Railway conductor who helped calm a distressed woman and called for medical assistance.
By Michael V. Cusenza
