114th Civ-OP Holds 26th Dinner-Dance Awards Night

Detective Lynda Marmara presents her namesake award to Joe DiPietro.

The 114th Civilian Observation Patrol (Civ- OP) held its annual buffet dinner and dance awards night on Wednesday, October 18. Members of the Civ-OP, local political and community leaders, police officers and auxiliary officers of the 114th Police Precinct were in attendance at Riccardo's By the Bridge, 21-10 24th Ave., Astoria. Civ-OP members have volunteered for environmental monitoring, graffiti cleanup, parking violation enforcement, event staffing, and VIN number etching, which deters theft by permanently marking a vehicle's windows with the vehicle's identification number. The community watch group has been in existence for more than 25 years.

The organization celebrated its members' dedicated efforts and achievements over the past year and paid tribute to some outstanding community leaders. With 114th Civ-OP President James D. Pollock presiding, the organization presented its Walter M. Michie Award to James Stahl. 114th Police Precinct Community Affairs Officer Paul Chatham received the Assemblyman Denis J. Butler Award. The Assistant Chief James Tuller Award, named for the commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens North, which includes the 114th Precinct, was presented to 114th Precinct Lieutenant Emanuel Dermitzakis. The Inspector David Barrere Award, named for a former commanding officer of the 114th Precinct, was presented to Carlos Alvarez. Joe DiPietro of the Federation of Italian-American Organizations of Queens, received the Detective Lynda Marmara Award, named for a former crime prevention officer at the 114th Precinct. Manthos A. Manthos received the Detective Ralph H. Barberio Award. Angie Markham, also of the Federation of Italian- American Organizations of Queens, received the P.O. Bill Nilsson Award. Nilsson, for much of his career with the Police Department, served as community affairs officer at the 114th Precinct until his retirement in 2006. The P.O. Adam J. Bierbauer Award, also named for a one-time 114th Precinct community affairs officer, was presented to Mike Cunningham. The P.O. Daniel Tirelli Award, also named for a former 114th Precinct community cffairs officer, was presented to Maria Catinella and the Auxiliary Police Officer George J. Yurkiw Award was presented to Auxiliary Police Lieutenant Howard L. Klein. The Civ-OP's Matt J. Koraus Award was presented to Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens member Hector Castro and the Sergeant Dwayne Palmer Award was presented to a child from the community. The Palmer Award is named for a former community affairs and crime prevention officer at the 114th Precinct, now a sergeant elsewhere in the borough.

114th Civ-OP Patrol President James D. Pollock presents a President's Call to Service Award to John Pelliteri.

Recipients of the President's Call to Service Award, which the 114th Civ-OP has been authorized to confer by Presidential fiat, were John F. Pellitteri and George A. Napolitano. Connie Stamatiades, representing Assemblymember Catherine Nolan, presented Assembly Citations to Manthos, Barbara Lorinz and Samuel Osmon.

Present and retired community affairs and crime prevention officers at the 114th Precinct, representing more than a quartercentury of service, were (l. to r.) Detective Ralph H. Barberio (retired), Detective Lynda Marmara, Police Officer Bill Nilsson (retired), NYPD Sergeant Dwayne Palmer and Paul Chatham, incumbent community affairs officer.

Two new awards were created and conferred for the first time at this year's Awards Night. The Sergeant Bernard Adams Award and the Inspector Brian McCarthy Award were presented to their respective namesakes. McCarthy is the current commanding officer of the 114th Precinct.