A packed house at the Richmond Hill Library on Tuesday saw plenty of plaques presented to police brass, bosses and officers as the 102nd Precinct Community Council convened for its final meeting before summer break.
However, before most of the honors were bestowed, Deputy Inspector Deodat Urprasad, commanding officer of the 102, and Assistant Chief David Barrere, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens South, got down to some police business.
Urpasad acknowledged the two recent homicides in the precinct, but indicated that since the investigations were ongoing, he could not comment much further.
Year to date, overall crime is down in the 102 by about 20 percent compared to the same period in 2014, Urprasad said. He also mentioned that he has assigned at least one cop to patrol Jamaica Avenue from 85th Street to 104th Street 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Barrere detailed a new department initiative essentially aimed at reducing the bureaucracy of the NYPD. Beginning in the next two to three weeks, all officers, except Transit, who work in PBQS—regardless of rank or assignment—will report directly to Barrere.
“We just chopped up the bureaucratic red tape,” Barrere noted. “The buck stops with me.”
Barrere; Capt. Danielle Raia, executive officer of the 102; Community Affairs Officer Edwin Martinez; and Sgt. Joe DeMarco received awards from the Community Council; while newly minted Capt. Courtney Nilan, Special Operations coordinator of the 102, earned plaques from both the Community Council and members of the precinct.
By Michael V. Cusenza
michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
Lt. Courtney Nilan, Special Operations coordinator, accepted awards from 102nd Precinct brass and its Community Council. Nilan recently was promoted to captain. Forum Photos by Greg Zwiers.
