3 Cops, 2 Civilians Receive Awards At 114th Council
BY RICHARD GENTILVISO

Introducing three police officers as January Cops-of-the-Month, Inspector Brian McCarthy, commanding officer of the 114th Precinct, said their selection was, "as always, well deserved". But in an unusual circumstance, two civilians received honors from Inspector McCarthy as well.

"Two members of the community will be very justifiably awarded and honored," McCarthy said at the February meeting of the precinct community council. Police Officers Wilfrid Auguste, David Rein and Melissa Knoetig were recognized as were private citizens Mario Massa and Michael Hernandez. Honors were conferred at the council meeting at Riccardo's By The Bridge.

During the month of January, Auguste, in cooperation with Massa, Hernandez and other people from the community, worked in local stores concerning an investigation into stolen goods.

"Without giving too much away, Officer Auguste obtained four search warrants, making arrests in four stores," McCarthy said. Auguste also recovered drugs and untaxed cigarettes. "These are the kind of stores we want closed," said McCarthy.

Massa, employed by Eckerd Drugs on Ditmars Boulevard, assisted the police by scanning products and identifying stores selling stolen goods. "We came up with a plan to get stores trafficking in stolen goods," said McCarthy.

"They were taking merchandise from our store and selling it on the outside," said Massa. "They were putting a big dent in us." He thanked McCarthy and the officers of the 114th. "The undercover operation was unbelievable," Massa said.

"I want to thank the community for appreciating the work that we do," Auguste said.

Rein, a member of the Anti-Crime plainclothes unit, observed a person in distress shortly after the individual had been robbed at about 4 a.m. on January 24 near the Astoria Houses. Rein put the man in his car and conducted a canvass of the area, apprehending the suspect without incident.

"Even before the report hits the 911 system, [Officer Rein] is out there doing his job," McCarthy said.

Also thanking the community, Rein said to Inspector McCarthy, "I know it was a hard decision. You have a lot of great cops."

Knoetig was cited for three incidents in January. On January 6, she arrested a suspect in an identity theft scam, on January 7 she worked undercover in Operation Losing Proposition prostitution arrests, and on January 12 she obtained a search warrant for arrests in the trafficking of counterfeit goods.

Clutching her awards from City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., Assemblymembers Michael Gianaris and Catherine Nolan, Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, the Broadway Merchants and Professionals Association and the Precinct Community Council, Knoetig said, "It's like Christmas. I've never felt so honored."

Inspector McCarthy, as guest speaker, reviewed crime trends in the precinct in a Power Point presentation. "We've really been going in the right direction," he said, pointing to declines in crime of 5 percent for 2005, 9 percent for 2006 and 10 percent so far in 2007.