Heroes of the Month BROOKLYN-USA.ORG
Brooklyn Borough President Adams honored his “Heroes of the Month” for January and February of 2019 in the Rotunda of Brooklyn
Borough Hall. Borough President’s offi ce / Erica Krodman
Recognizing Brooklynites for their good works
The everyday, unsung heroes of
Kings County rarely get — and most
times do not want — their day in the
spotlight. Such Samaritans, the borough
president’s offi ce upholds, should
be recognized for their courageous,
selfl ess, and impactful actions. Their
strong sense of community is at the core
of what One Brooklyn stands for.
October 2018
Offi cers Charles Edwards and
Damion Graham, New York Police
Department
On Monday, Oct. 8, 2018, Offi cers Edwards
and Graham, based out of Transit
District 30 in Downtown, immediately
responded to a 911 call alerting to
a situation in which a 1-year-old baby
had stopped breathing while traveling
with his parents on a C train.
Offi cer Edwards took the child into
his arms and began cardiopulmonary
resuscitation while his partner, Offi
cer Graham, assisted him and readied
to transport the baby to the nearest
hospital, rather than waiting for an
ambulance to arrive. The offi cers heroically
saved the life of the baby demonstrating
the power of fi rst responders
in emergency situations.
November 2018
Deputy Inspector Joseph G.
Seminara, NYPD
At the completion of his 14-hour
32 ONE BROOKLYN | SPRING 2019
tour as commanding offi cer of the
23rd Precinct on Wednesday, Nov. 28,
2018, Deputy Inspector Seminara was
driving home when he came upon a
two-vehicle wreck with both vehicles
ablaze.
Some bystanders informed him
that a woman was trapped in one of
the vehicles and could not get out.
As Deputy Inspector Seminara attempted
to get 30-year-old Rhonda
Alexander out through the driver’s
door, he realized that the accident
had damaged the door, and it would
not open.
With the fl ames engulfi ng the car,
and no time to spare, Deputy Inspector
Seminara got in through the passenger
door, but still had diffi culty
getting the woman out. An anonymous
motorist jumped into the fray
and assisted Deputy Inspector Seminara
in removing the woman from
the burning car.
December 2018
Emma’s Torch restaurant
Emma’s Torch, a non-profi t restaurant
in Carroll Gardens, empowers
refugees and survivors of human
traffi cking to build new lives through
the culinary arts.
Named after Emma Lazarus, who
wrote the poem etched on the Statue
of Liberty, the restaurant’s student
chefs work to prepare meals while
receiving eight weeks of paid apprenticeship
training, English language
classes, and job placement
services.
In 2017, 100 percent of their graduates
were placed in full-time culinary
jobs. In February 2019, the program
opened a new location at the Brooklyn
Public Library’s Central Library
in Prospect Heights.
January 2019
Sergeant William Hart, NYPD
On Tuesday, Jan. 15, Sgt. Hart
was performing a routine quality
of life inspection on the Manhattan
Bridge when three individuals on the
Brooklyn side ran up to him alerting
that a 13-year-old boy was sitting on
the ledge of the bridge looking distraught,
not acknowledging anyone,
and may have been about to jump 100
feet down to the ground below.
Sgt. Hart, who was trained with
the NYPD’s Emergency Services
Unit, immediately scaled the fence,
sat next to the boy, grabbed hold of
him, and helped him back over the
fence to safety. Later, the young boy
told police his mother was sick and
that he wanted to end his life.
February 2019
Catholic Charities of Brooklyn
and Queens, Masbia, Massage
Outpost, and Sweet Chick
Catholic Charities of Brooklyn
and Queens, Masbia, Massage Outpost,
and Sweet Chick all did their
part to give back to the Brooklyn
community by helping federal workers
during the recent government
shutdown.
Catholic Charities of Brooklyn
and Queens leaders hosted pop-up
food pantries for furloughed government
workers and distributed food
vouchers, gas cards, non-perishable
food, produce, and toiletries for those
in need.
Masbia Soup Kitchen Network
reached out to impacted federal
workers by visiting our local airports
to inform Transportation
Safety Administration agents about
their organization’s three locations,
including in Borough Park and Flatbush,
providing free hot meals and
groceries.
Massage Outpost, based in
Dumbo, Greenpoint, and Williamsburg,
provided free massages and
Sweet Chick, which has locations in
Prospect Heights and Williamsburg,
distributed free meals to those impacted.
Brooklyn Borough Hall congratulates
these and all local heroes for
their dedication and service to Kings
County’s communities!
If you know someone who has
gone above and beyond to help others
and build a stronger borough for
everyone, nominate them by emailing
askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.
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