68th Precinct Cops of the Month

Four 68th Precinct police officers were in the spotlight duringthe most recent community council meeting as Cops of the Month forSeptember.

P.O. Steven Gibbons snagged the accolade for his consistenteffectiveness, said Captain Richard DiBlasio, the precinct’scommanding officer.

It’s not just one particular incident, noted DiBlasio. He’salways been there. Nonetheless, this past summer, said DiBlasio,Gibbons, arrested three suspects who were taking the rims off carwheels in the precinct, as they were fleeing the scene of thecrime, recovering the rims as well.

Sergeant Joseph Nicotra was recognized as Sergeant of the Monthfor having arrested the alleged perpetrator in a multiple stabbingthat took place over the summer outside a local club, Crown KTV on64th Street, on August 8. Flagged down immediately following theassault, Nicotra called for additional units to come to the scene,then headed back to the club where he apprehended theperpetrator, said DiBlasio.

Finally, P.O. Adrian Phagoo and P.O. Salvatore Billigmeier werehonored for capturing the alleged perpetrator in a murder on August17. The two officers, said DiBlasio, observed the suspect in thedoorway of a building on 71st Street where the murder occurredwith a knife in his hand. They tried to get the individual to dropthe knife. He wouldn’t. They were able to successfully disarm theindividual, without harm to the perpetrator, themselves or anyoneelse.