FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com march 19, 2015 • The Queens Courier 43 CUNY safety training academy holds ribbon cutting for new facility in Jamaica BY THE QUEENS COURIER STAFF editorial@queenscourier.com @QueensCourier The City University of New York Public Safety Training Academy now has a brand-new site to call home in Jamaica. The CUNY safety officers celebrated on March 13 the ribbon cutting of their new stateof the-art facility in the Gertz Plaza Mall, 92-31 Union Hall St., 7th Floor, Jamaica. The new office consists of smart room technology classrooms, locker rooms, an all-purpose gymnasium and administrative offices. It can accommodate the increased number of NYC agencies for which the academy now provides training. CUNY Public Safety Training Academy was established in 2002 at Lehman College/ CUNY by University Director of Public Safety William Barry with the support of Allan Dobrin, CUNY executive vice chancellor and COO, and Dave Fields, senior university dean/ special counsel to the chancellor, to train the 500 peace officers then employed by CUNY. In 2004, the academy moved to York College/ CUNY in Jamaica, Queens, close to a major transportation hub accessed by the LIRR, major subway lines, NYC buses and the Van Wyck Expressway. There, the academy expanded to train the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation’s 650 peace officers. Each year the academy trains (L-R ) University Director of Public Safety William G Barry, CUNY Public Safety Director of Training Daniel Donahue, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, Local 237 President Gregory Floyd, and CUNY Executive Vice Chancellor and COO Allan Dobrin officially open the new facility at the CUNY Public Safety Training Academy ribbon cutting. over 2,500 officers in over 100 topics mandated by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services, and the new upgrade to their own facility will help them to continue to accommodate the growing number of candidates. They now offer five NYScertified training programs that consist of recruit training for CUNY, the NYC Health & Hospitals Corporation, the Brooklyn Public Library, the NYS Liquor Authority, the Administration of Children Services and the NYC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. They also provide Department of Criminal Justice-mandated, Photo courtesy of Borough President Melinda Katz in-service training for those agencies as well as for the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority. Queens Borough President Melinda Katz joined the academy at the ribbon cutting and was delighted to see the new facility. “The academy’s new location in the Gertz Plaza Mall is a modern and spacious facility that will help ensure those trained there will receive the best possible preparation for the public safety duties they will be carrying out,” Katz said. “The new facility is a welcome addition to the up- and-coming Jamaica neighborhood.” FAKE CABBIE TOLD PASSENGERS AIRTRAIN WAS DOWN TO SOLICIT FARES: DA BY CRIS TABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com @CristabelleT An unlicensed livery cab driver was busted after he allegedly lied to JFK Airport passengers by telling them the AirTrain wasn’t running and that he was a Super Shuttle driver, according to the Queens District Attorney’s office. Barnabas Laurent, 47, of Brentwood, Long Island, has been arraigned on charges of third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, second-degree criminal impersonation, third-degree criminal trespass and unlawful solicitation of ground transportation, District Attorney Richard Brown announced on March 16. Laurent was allegedly spotted approaching several passengers at the airport’s arrivals section in Terminal 1 on March 14 to try to solicit fares. According to the criminal complaint, he falsely told passengers that the AirTrain wasn’t working and said that he was a Super Shuttle driver. Laurent then offered to take them to the Jamaica train station or elsewhere. Inside Laurent’s vehicle, a Super Shuttle rate book, receipt books and other material with the Super Shuttle logo were allegedly found. “It is important that travelers visiting New York City are provided with a safe and welcoming atmosphere at our airports,” Brown said. “Unregulated taxis and unscrupulous drivers — who are not properly licensed and do not carry appropriate insurance — put riders at risk.” Laurent, who faces up to a year in jail if convicted, is being held in lieu of $500 bail. File photo
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