Awards, promotions at 62nd Precinct

Besides the usual Cop of the Month Award, Deputy Inspector James Rooney handed out a special Community Service award to Police Officer Piero Lasaponara at the 62^nd Precinct Community Council meeting held on Tuesday, February 19 at the Muslim Youth Center.

Lasaponara is assigned to the Brooklyn South Anti-Crime Unit but lives within the confines of the 62^nd Precinct. On Wednesday, February 13 at 2:05 p.m., he was off-duty and sitting in his car when he noticed a suspicious male casing a 90-year-old female inside the Rite Aid parking lot on 86^th Street near 25^th Avenue.

As she was unloading her purchases, the man pushed her to the ground. Quick-thinking Lasaponara first called 9-1-1 then pursued the perp. He was able to catch him in front of 8612 25^th Avenue. Lasaponara, who was unarmed, identified himself as an officer. The man then turned around to face him and put one hand into his jacket pocket.

That’s when Lasaponara tackled him. During the struggle, the perp took the officer’s cell phone as he tried to call for help. As additional officers arrived, they were able to retrieve Lasaponara’s phone and subdue the perp.

Rooney explained that the perp was 45-year-old Timothy Byrnes, a Bensonhurst resident wanted for a series of violent robberies, which has caused a significant spike in robberies in the 62^nd Precinct.

“He really did us a service by getting involved,” Rooney said. “He has brought this robbery pattern to a close.”

Byrne is also wanted for incidents in the 61^st Precinct. In January, he allegedly stole a car, tried to take an elderly woman’s purse and threatened nail salon employees with a pipe.

At the same meeting, Police Officer Mathieu Pierre gave promotions to two officers in the Law Explorer Program. These young men and women, aged 14 to 20, are part of this program to learn the ins and outs of a career in law enforcement. A uniformed officer in each precinct, Police Service Area and Transit District acts as the on-site advisor, which in this case is Pierre.

Nicole Ling was promoted to Sergeant and Philip Ramos was promoted to Lieutenant.

“They learn almost everything that a police officer learns but not with technique and training,” he explained. “They learn leadership skills. I would not be able to do it by myself.”