The following story is an extended version of the one which appears in our latest print edition.

 

The bravery and commitment of police officers, along with the contributions of other volunteer and community leaders and elected officials to protecting and uplifting the community, were formally recognized on July 26 during the 52nd Precinct Community Council Fellowship Recognition Breakfast held at Fordham Manor’s Monroe College, located at 2501 Jerome Avenue.

 

The 52nd Precinct Community Council comprises president, Brenda Caldwell-Paris, vice-president, Gerald (“Jerry”) Landron, treasurer, Grace Seiner, recording secretary, Joy (Syeeda) LaFontaine, sergeant-at-arms, Doug Condition, and council youth representative, law enforcement explorers, Jamie Hernandez.

 

In attendance at the large gathering, among others, were Caldwell-Paris, Deputy Inspector Jeremy Scheublin, commanding officer of the 52^nd Precinct, LaFontaine, Landron, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, David Caba of Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence (B.R.A.G.), a cure violence program operated through nonprofit, Good Shepherd Services, Bronx Community Board 7 (CB7) District Manager Ischia Bravo, and Barbara Stronczer, president of Bedford Mosholu Community Association and CB7 board member.

 

Also present were Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Assembly Member Nathalia Fernandez (A.D. 80), District 11 City Council Member Eric Dinowitz, District 15 City Council Member Oswald Feliz, District 14 City Council Member Pierina Sanchez, who has since given birth, Jennifer Tausig, former executive director of Jerome Gun Hill BID and Mosholu Preservation Corporation (MPC), MPC board member, Sallie Caldwell, Melissa Cebollero from the Office of Community Relations at Montefiore Health System, and Jaslynne Medina, associate executive director for NYC Health +Hospitals/North Central Bronx.

 

The various “Cop of the Month” awards going back to July 2021 were formally presented on the day. The honorees for 2021 were Police Officers Jonathan Garcia (July), Solanyi Paredes [and Varoccio] (Aug), Lytzaira Lopez and Victor Lizardi (Sept.), Matthew Guerrido (Oct.), Daniel Rivera and Ron Castro (Nov.) and Brendan Latimer (Dec.).

 

For 2022, the honorees, so far, were Police Officers Jarren Smalls (Jan.), Christopher Matiatos (Feb.) Felice Martino (March), Roy Valentin (April), Bryan Scheblein (May), and Omar Carrasco-Tatis (June). The Executive Officer Award was presented to Captain Asif Iqbal and the Neighborhood Coordination Officer Awards were presented to Police Officers Jose Cepeda and Jose Fernandez.

 

In June 2021, during the first in-person council meeting to be held for several months, amid the pandemic, the “Cop of the Month” award was presented to Police Officer Angela Marietta by 52nd Precinct Captain Asif Iqbal, who said she had made a great gun arrest during the course of a traffic stop. “We have a problem with the shootings, with the 52 up 50 percent with the shootings, so every gun helps,” he said at the time. “Thank you very much.”

During the September 2021 52nd Precinct Community Council meeting, former commanding officer of the 52nd Precinct, Deputy Inspector Thomas J Alps, said, that on Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, Police Officers Paredes and [Varoccio.. inaudible] were an hour into their tour of the precinct vicinity when a call came in regarding a robbery in progress. The officers “conducted a search for two men on a yellow scooter who had just pistol-whipped and robbed a man at gunpoint for his chain and cellphone.” Alps said. “The officers were able to locate the perpetrators who had attempted to flee on the scooter and later on foot.”

 

He said the officers were able to corner the perpetrator and after a brief stand off, the suspects were taken into custody, which he said led to a pattern of several arrests being closed. The gun was recovered, as was the victim’s property. “Thanks to the officers keen eyes and extended search of the area which extended down into the 46th precinct, they were able to arrest two individuals who posed a great death threat to this community,” Alps said. Paredes and Varoccio were declared Cops of the Month for August 2021 as a result.

The Neighborhood Coordination Officer Sgt. Award was presented to Sgt. James O’Brien, the Auxiliary Award was presented to Lt. Eugenio Abreu and the Law Enforcement Explorers Award was presented to Corporal Jamie Hernandez. In addition, the School Crossing Guard Award was presented to Lutchmin Harripersad.

 

Caldwell-Paris told Norwood News, “The Mahoney/Shankman Award is named after two dedicated members of the council and [of] the Norwood community, Kathy Mahoney and Edward Shankman.”

 

She added, “So, for our 1st fellowship breakfast, the award was presented to a community person recognizing their outstanding services, achievements to the community and the precinct.” The award was presented by Caldwell-Paris, LaFontaine and Landron, to both LaFontaine for her work on the council and to Stronczer for her work in the community.

 

Wrapping up the civilian honorees, the Special Elected Official Service Award was presented to Fernandez, who later said she was “incredibly honored,” to have been recognized. “It has been a pleasure to work with you for the last 10 years. Thank you for your partnership and everything you do for the Northwest Bronx.” The assemblywoman has since declared victory in the recent June Democratic primary for Senate District 34.

 

On Aug. 20, Caldwell-Paris, herself, was presented with a special community award by Fordham Hill Owners Corp., located at 1 Fordham Hill Oval in Fordham Manor. Reacting to the news, Caldwell-Paris said in part, “Greetings to All!….I would like to sincerely shout out everyone at the Fordham Hill Owners Corp., particularly Myrna Calderon & Rachel Bradshaw! Thank you so very much for thinking of me by presenting me with this nice, wonderful Community Service Award! What a surprise….and I so appreciate it. See you soon! Our October meeting at Fordham Hills!”

 

Gibson later said of the fellowship breakfast, “Proud to have joined the 52nd Precinct for their Council Breakfast to celebrate the work of our brave men and women in law enforcement. Thank you for all that you do.”

 

The borough president’s message was echoed by Dinowitz who said, “I’d like to take this time to send a big thank you to @NYPD52Pct for the work they do to keep our communities safe. Had a great time celebrating them at the Community Council Fellowship Recognition breakfast. Congrats to the honorees!”

 

Feliz’s comments were similarly complimentary. “Police officers work every day, at all hours, to help keep our neighborhoods safe,” he said. “Proud to have joined the @NYPD52Pct fellowship breakfast to thank them, and to present a proclamation to Deputy Inspector Jeremy Scheublin, who recently completed 20 years serving the Bronx!”

 

Earlier this year, in January, we reported on how a fire broke out at the 52nd Precinct stationhouse, located on Webster Avenue in Norwood, and in February, a 28-year-old man was arrested following a burglary inside the precinct.

 

Earlier this month, as reported, an announcement was made at the 52nd Precinct by Scheublin and Chief Inspector Jeffrey Maddrey on a major crackdown by police on illegal scooters, dirt bikes and ATVs, amid a seizure of hundreds of such vehicles which were displayed during a recent press conference at the precinct. Four-year-old, Mario “MJAY” Rosario from Kingsbridge Heights died in two-vehicle scooter accident in Fordham Manor involving one such illegal scooter on Sunday, Aug. 14.

 

More recently, we also reported on a “Harm Reduction forum” held at Monroe College during which Scheublin talked about how he understood the frustration of local residents when they raised various quality-of-life issues and how, for him, it was not just about addressing them as part of his job, but it was also personal to him since he had deep ties with the precinct and the borough.

 

Meanwhile, those involved with the Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence cure violence program are continuing their series of summer barbeques, as reported, as part of a wider effort to curb gun violence in the 46th, 47th and 52nd Precincts.

 

On Friday, as reported, one young teen was arrested following a violent assault on an off-duty police officer in the 43rd precinct in the Unionport section of the borough. The teen is alleged to be part of a gang which is being investigated in relation to a string of violent incidents [up to 18] many of which were carjackings with a similar pattern. In addition, there were three additional carjackings which may or may not be related to the gang’s activity in the North Bronx in recent weeks, including one just off Gun Hill Road, as reported

 

Scheublin later took time to give special thanks via Twitter to all who had attended the fellowship breakfast, while a separate tweet from NYPD Bronx read, “Todays ‘Fellowship Breakfast,’ hosted by @monroe_college, honored the hard work and sacrifice made each day by the officers of the @NYPD52Pct in keeping you safe. We thank you each and every day for your continued support. #BronxStrong”

 

Editor’s Note: Norwood News is clarifying the name of the second police officer mentioned during the September precinct meeting as also being the Aug. 2021 Cop of the Month and will update this story upon receipt of feedback.