At the 62nd Precinct Medal Day this past Saturday, November 19at the Cotillion Terrace, over 50 officers, staff and community andyouth volunteers were recognized for their service to the PoliceDepartment, the precinct and the Bensonhurst, Bath Beach andGravesend communities.
The event held by NYPD precincts throughout the city finallyarrived in the 62nd Precinct – which recent NYPD CompStat data hasrevealed to be one of the safest communities citywide — thanks toefforts by the commanding officer, Deputy Inspector James Rooney,Police Officer Stephen Agosta and Lieutenant John Gillen.
We’ve always given awards and plaques at holiday parties, butnot like this, said Officer Christian Torres, aneight-year-veteran of the 62nd Precinct who was one of 12 officersto receive a Cop of the Month award. It’s nice that we recognizewhat all the guys are doing.
It was Torres’s second Cop of the Month award. Many of thoserecognized in that category were chosen for their work in quicklyresolving the July 2010 robbery-in-progress at the 86th StreetAutoZone.
Other Medal Day awards were presented for Youth Explorerservice, Auxiliary Hours, Community Service, Recognition ofPromotion, Twenty Years of Service, Excellent Police Duty,Meritorious Police Duty, Civilian of the Year, Police Officers ofthe Year, and Supervisors of the Year.
Nine-year-veteran Sergeant Thomas Hergenhan, who was recognizedfor Meritorious Police Duty in relation to a robbery arrest duringwhich his partner was assaulted, agreed, noting that it’s good formorale.
I was kind of surprised [when I got the call that I would behonored] because I got the Civilian of the Quarter and thought thatwas it, said Civilian of the Year honoree Anita Wong, who servesas Senior Police Administrative Assistant. It was the same day asmy brother’s wedding, so I was all dressed up and everyone thoughtit was for this!
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