BRCC put Bravest and Finest in the spotlight

It was an evening for thanks and admiration, as the Bay Ridge Community Council (BRCC) honored a local firefighter, police officer and auxiliary police officer for their efforts on behalf of the community.

BRCC named Captain Rich Savarese, of Ladder 149, its Firefighter of the Year for his daring rescue of a woman whom he discovered unconscious on the fifth floor of a burning building on 92^nd Street, on August 1, 2014.

BRCC’s Cop of the Year for 2015 was Police Officer Rob Maynard, who received Police Officer of the Year honors for his achievements as a member of the 68^th Precinct’s anticrime unit. He has since been moved to the 67^th Precinct, said Captain Raymond Festino, the 68^th Precinct commanding officer, but during his tenure at the 68^th Precinct, he was instrumental “in reducing crime to record lows,” according to BRCC Police and Fire Awards Committee Co-Chair Irene Hanvey, notching “265 arrests, 44 in 2014 alone, including 12 violent felony arrests.”

Finally, Auxiliary Police Officer Ahmed Farag was named Auxiliary Police Officer of the Year. Since becoming a member of the auxiliaries in July, 2012, he has “volunteered for over 1,000 hours,” and “was one of the responders assisting in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

“It is the council’s desire to highlight these brave men and women that make selfless contributions to the Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights and Fort Hamilton area,” said Hanvey.

In addition to recognizing the three individual honorees, the BRCC also presented plaques to the 68^th Precinct and FDNY Engine 241 Ladder 109, to show their overall appreciation for all that the members of the FDNY and the NYPD do to keep the neighborhood safe.

BROOKLYN MEDIA GROUP/Photos by Helen Klein