Brown Salutes 114th Pct., Community At Breakfast
BY RICHARD GENTILVISO

Brown spoke at the annual 114th Precinct Fellowship Breakfast held at Riccardo's on April 30. The event is designed to foster better community relations.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown reaffirmed the importance of a strong bond between the police and community. "The relationship that exists between our communities in Queens and our police really makes Queens a special place to work and live," he said.

Brown spoke at the annual 114th Precinct Fellowship Breakfast held at Riccardo's on April 30. The event is designed to foster better community relations between community members, civic, business and religious organizations. It also gives the community an opportunity to meet some of the police officers in their precinct.

Brown was elected to an unprecedented fourth term last November. Back in 1991, in his first term, he recalled, there were 361 homicides and 56,000 cars stolen in Queens. Last year, those numbers dropped to 72 homicides and 4,000 vehicles, he said.

Overall, violent crime has dropped by 85 percent over the last 10 years in Queens. "The credit belongs, in large part, to the men and women of [the] NYPD," Brown said, giving due to his office as well. "But without the support you [the community] provide day in and day out, we couldn't accomplish what we do."

On April 25, three police officers were acquitted in the shooting death of Sean Bell, a case the Queens District Attorney's Office prosecuted.

Police Officer Daniel Tirelli served as master of ceremonies. Tirelli, who began his career in the NYPD 25 years ago in the 114th Precinct and now serves as Financial Secretary for Patrol Borough Queens North, said when most people think of the police, they think of just arrests and summonses.

In reality, police deal with the public on an everyday basis, Tirelli said. "There's constant interaction and it's usually positive," he said. "The public is our friend. Without [them] we wouldn't be able to do the job."

Assistant Chief Diana Pizzuti, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens North, agreed. "It's a partnership between neighborhood and police," she said. "The police officers of the 114th Precinct do a wonderful job to keep your neighborhood safe and thriving under the leadership of Deputy Inspector Vorbeck."

Deputy Inspector Paul Vorbeck, attending his first fellowship breakfast since taking command of the 114th in January, said the event was an excellent way for members of the community to meet their local police officers. "The community is very, very supportive."

Vorbeck said there is a significant and strong sense of community in Astoria. "I have never worked in a community with so many civic groups," he said. "I think it's great." Much important information comes to the precinct from them. "The more information (they) can provide, the more we can do," he said.

In the year to date, for example, there has been a 27 percent increase in quality of life summonses issued in the 114th. In addition, felony assaults are down 23 percent. Although burglaries are a current problem area, Vorbeck reported the recent arrest of two individuals wanted for a spurt of commercial robberies in the precinct.

"I will continue to work to enhance quality of life, reduce crime and make Astoria a great place to work and live," he said.