Jamaica NY Rotary Club honors NYPD officers
By Tangerine Clarke
Joe Iaboni, president and executive
member of the Jamaica New
York Rotary Club, in collaboration
with the New York Police
Department, honored a group of
brave men and women in blue, for
their commitment to serve and
protect citizens, at a monthly Cop
of the Month ceremony on Sept.
11, 2021, which coincided with a
20th Anniversary Remembrance
to honor those lost in the twintower
attack.
The police officers who were
presented with plaques during
a luncheon at Villa Russo,
Richmond Hill, on Sept. 29, are
attached to the 102, 103, 106
and 113th Precincts. They are
PO Giancarlo Pineda, Cameron
Garguilo, Levi Jaggerauth, PO,
Ivor Alexander, PO David Kim,
PO Gozzi, PO Agunzo, Sgt. Kimberly
Marshall and PO Kairine
Jamison.
Iaboni, who said the Jamaica
Rotary Club, is the only branch
that has hosted the “Cop of the
Month” awards ceremony for outstanding
service in the community
for the last 18 years, also rang a
bell and announced the names of
15 fallen heroes, who died in the
Twin Towers, on Sept. 11, 2001.
Empty chairs each decorated
with a single yellow rose, NYPD
caps, and sashes, paid tribute to
the brave heroes lost. Police Officer
Edward R. Byrne, formally of
the 102 Precinct, for whom some
of the plaques were named, and
who served the force for two years
before dying in the line of fire
at age 22, was also remembered
with a poster image propped on
an easel in front of the podium.
Iaboni, the longest serving
president of the Jamaica Rotary
Club, praised the cops, and
thanked them for their bravery,
and dedication to keeping
the community safe. He also
expressed gratitude to captains of
the various Precincts, for recommended
Caribbean L 16 ife, OCTOBER 8-14, 2021
those who went beyond
the call of duty, deserving of the
accolade.
“The work that was done, demonstrates
the bravery and commitment
these offers have done
to keep the community safe. We
make it our business, even if these
are criminals, and even if they are
shooting at other criminals, it is
our job to keep them safe, so we
put our lives on the line to make
sure no one gets shot said Chief
Ruben Beltran.
He commended the officers
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar with NYPD PO Kairine Jamison and Sgt. Kimberly Marshall,
at the “Cop of the Month” awards at Villa Russo, Queens. Photo by Tangerine Clarke
for the stories of sustaining life
and bringing people back to life.
“There are dozens of incidents
that occur on a weekly basis that
we are privy to but are never
reported in the newspaper. But
over here, once a month at least
10 times a year we get an opportunity
to be recognized by the
business community,” said Chief
Beltran.
He said there are many more
officers who are deserving of the
honor, but there was not enough
space to hold them in the banquet
hall and called on the audience
to give those present a round of
applause. He also thanked Iobani
for keeping the work of the souls
who died in the line of duty alive.
Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar
called the officers heroes
and New York’s finest. “My office
has always been open to officers. I
always say, my office, is your office
too. Officers are our good friends.
They work with us,” she said.
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