National Night Out returns to Queens
The annual event fosters relationship between police and the communities they serve
BY GABRIELE HOLTERMANN
Community members
across Queens had a chance to
meet their local police officers
during National Night Out
Against Crime on Aug. 3.
The community-building
campaign, celebrated across
the nation on the first Tuesday
of August every year, aims to
foster a positive relationship
between the police and neighborhoods.
In Queens, the 110th Precinct,
which encompasses
Corona and Elmhurst, celebrated
the annual event in
Flushing Meadows Corona
Park — where a few thousand
community members showed
their support for the women
and men in blue.
George Onourah felt that
this year’s National Night Out
took on a new meaning given
the rise in crime, saying public
safety should be a priority.
“We need to build a relationship
between the NYPD
and the community,” Onourah
said. “That way, we can have
the peace and understanding
we need to make this a better
city — where each one of us
feels safe when we walk the
streets.”
Kids and parents enjoyed
the carousel rides, face painting,
slides, dance performances
and musical entertainment
by Camila Noguera,
who also sang the national
anthem. Long lines formed at
the “game table” where police
officers handed out age-appropriate
games donated by Chief
of Community Affairs Jeffrey
Maddrey, and the hot dog
stand attended by 110th Community
Council members.
Commanding officer of
the 110th Precinct Jonathan
Cermeli, who was recently
promoted to deputy inspector,
said it was great to see so
many members of the community
at the event after it was
canceled last year due to the
COVID-19 crisis.
“We want to do events like
this, to build the bridges between
the community and
the police department, but we
need your support,” Cermeli
said before handing out the
City Council’s Good Samaritan
award to some officers of
the 110th Precinct.
In May, NYPD Officers
Tyborowski and Isanovic responded
to a call regarding an
unconscious child who had a
seizure. They saved the 2-yearold’s
life, removing the foam
from her mouth to prevent her
from choking and performing
CPR. Police Officer Laqua and
his partner saved the life of a
stabbing victim by applying a
tourniquet and apprehending
the suspect.
“A lot of people think it’s
just locking up bad guys in
handcuffs, but it’s a lot about
life-saving actions,” Cermeli
said. “It’s so important now
more than ever that people
realize what the police department
is all about, and we’re
about helping people. That’s
our main concern.”
He encouraged everyone to
say “hello” or “thank you” to
a police officer and reiterated
that “we’re here to help you,
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards presents a citation
of honor for the 110th Precinct to Deputy Inspector Jonathan
Cermeli, the commanding officer of the 110th Precinct.
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
2 TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | AUG. 6-12, 2021 TL
and we will always respond
on your behalf, and we will
always have your backs and
protect you.”
Assemblywoman Catalina
Cruz handed out a slew of New
York State Assembly Certificates
of Merit to community
members, including Ceremeli,
Detective Saponieri and members
of the 110th Community
Council.
She pointed out that the
110th Precinct played an integral
part in handing out
200,000 bags of food during
the height of the COVID-19
pandemic and that the precinct
organized a poker tournament
to raise money for the
community.
“As soon as the pandemic
hit, Deputy Inspector Cermeli
came to me and said, ‘How
can I help you?’ And so those
200,000 bags of food that we
gave out, we didn’t do it alone,”
Cruz said.
President of the 110th Community
Council Al Perna,
which helped organize the
event, acknowledged Cermeli’s
promotion with a plaque
from the council.
“This is a big promotion for
the community. He’s always
for us,” Perna said. “We’re always
here for the community.
Remember that, guys. You go
by your precinct, you see a
police officer, say ‘hello,’ say
‘thank you for your service,
thanks for keeping us safe.'”
A few miles further away,
the 109th Precinct — which encompasses
Downtown Flushing,
East Flushing, Queensboro
Hill, College Point,
Malba, Whitestone, Beechhurst
and Bay Terrace — celebrated
National Night Out
with pony rides, cotton candy,
slides and amusement rides.
Commanding officer Captain
John L. O’Connell said
that the 109th Precinct did a
great job reaching out to the
community all year around,
and enjoyed the great turnout.
“It feels a little bit back to
normal to see so many people
here, and it’s refreshing,”
O’Connell said, “The best part
is that there are so many kids
here. That’s the key to me: the
youth turnout. That’s what
you really want — to develop
those relationships with the
kids.”
Reach QNS Editorial by
e-mail at editorial@qns.com
Police offiicers of the 110th Precinct hand out games to kids at National Night Out. The games were
donated by Chief of Community Affairs Maddrey. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
A dance group entertains the crowd with an Ecuadorian dance at National
Night Out hosted by the 110th Precinct. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
TIMESLEDGER is published weekly by Queens CNG LLC, 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY. 11361, (718) 229-0300. The entire contents of this publication are copyright 2021. All rights reserved. The newspaper will not be
liable for errors appearing in any advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Periodicals postage paid at Flushing, N.Y.. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the TimesLedger C/O News Queens
CNG LLC. 41-02 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, N.Y. 11361.
link
link
link
link
link
link
/QNS.COM
link
