26 The Queens Courier • april 16, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com WARNINGS ABOUT POLICE IMPERSONATORS IN MASPETH AND ELMHURST BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO editorial@ridgewoodtimes.com @timesnewsweekly Police impersonation warnings dominated the discussion at the Communities of Maspeth and Elmhurst Together (COMET) meeting at St. Adalbert’s Church in Elmhurst on April 13. Representatives of the 104th, 108th and 110th precincts warned residents about a dangerous uptick in home invasions and robberies committed by perpetrators impersonating police officers. Deputy Inspector Christopher Manson, commander of the 110th Precinct, cautioned COMET members against falling victim to this scheme. According to Manson, three such robberies occurred recently within the confines of the 110th Precinct. In one case, two males with dark complexions riding in a black van followed a man walking home between the hours of 1:30 and 4:30 a.m. One of the suspects, pretending to be a plain-clothes police officer, approached the victim, frisked him, stole his wallet and sped away in the van. The other two incidents were similar in nature. Manson believes the victims were targeted because they were walking alone late at night. He urged residents to request a valid NYPD ID card from anyone attempting to stop them on the street claiming to be an officer. Maspeth and Elmhurst have also seen an increase in home invasions and burglaries committed by police impersonators. However, unlike the robberies, the recent home invasions appear to deliberately target houses with reputations for illegal activities and narcotics. On March 24th, a home invasion robbery involving police impersonation took place on Jay Avenue in Maspeth. According to reports, two black males wearing fake police uniforms forced their way into the front door of the home. Once inside, they ransacked a basement apartment and then fled on foot. “This is not a random act,” said Capt. Mark Wachter, commanding officer of the 104th Precinct. “These homes were targeted.” An investigation into the incident is ongoing, with detectives from the Police Impersonation Investigation Unit examining video footage from the vicinity of the crime. Manson reported similar incidents in the 110th Precinct. Manson believes the perpetrators in these incidents are attempting to shake down reputed drug houses for narcotics and cash. “They go where they know the money is,” he said. Capt. Lavonda Wise, the new executive officer of the 108th Precinct, introduced herself to COMET members. She reported two incidents of home burglaries in the 108th Precinct in the past month. In both cases, perpetrators broke the locks on the front doors of the homes to gain entry. According to Wise, an investigation into these incidents is ongoing. TIMES NEWSWEEKLY/Photo by Kelly Marie Mancuso Capt. Lavonda Wise (center) of the 108th Precinct is pictured with COMET President Rosemarie Daraio (at left) and Vice President Richard Gundlach. FRIENDS OF DOUGLASTON-LITTLE NECK LIBRARY AND QUEENS LIBRARY FOUNDATION PARTNER TO RAISE FUNDS FOR BOOKS The Friends of the Douglaston-Little Neck Library, in partnership with Queens Library Foundation, has kicked off a campaign to raise funds for books and other library materials. With a goal of raising $25,000 by June 30, the group is working to solicit support from community residents and local businesses, and has raised $10,000 to date. The campaign, which is chaired by Douglaston-Little Neck Friends members J. Douglas Montgomery of Home NY Realty and Chair of Community Board 11 Libraries Committee; and John F. Duane, former member of the NYS Assembly representing the neighborhood, will end with a celebratory fundraiser at the Douglaston Club on Sunday afternoon, June 7. Funds will go toward Queens Library's Buy-a-Book program. Through this program, every $25 a supporter donates will provide a new book for the Douglaston/Little Neck Library with a bookplate inside, dedicating the book as the donor chooses. $50 would mean two bookplates for two books. Recognition for a shelf of books comes with a $500 donation. A donor receives recognition for a stack for a $2,500 donation. With funds raised to date, the Library has been able to purchase an array of books, from bestsellers and popular fiction, to non-fiction essentials for schoolchildren and DVDs, CDs and audiobooks. New special collections on African-American, Asian-American and Native American histories and cultures are highlights of the collection. "We are delighted that this community Campaign Co-Chair John F. Duane; Ellen Young, Director of Donor Relations, Queens Library Foundation; Community Library Manager Ron Wan; Co-Chair J. Douglas Montgomery is working to raise funds for books for the Douglaston-Little Neck Library," stated Interim President and CEO Bridget Quinn-Carey. "This kind of grassroots effort is wonderful for the Library, its patrons and the entire neighborhood." "Our Library is an essential resource for our community," stated Arline Abdalian, President of the Friends group for the Douglaston-Little Neck Library. "Since there is a growing interest in our local Library and its Friends group, I am delighted that Douglas and John are leading this important effort to bring much-needed books and other resources to our Library." To make a donation or to participate in the fundraising event, please contact Ellen Young, the Library's Director of Donor Relations, at 718-480-4276 or Ellen. Young@queenslibrary.org. The Poetry of Emily Dickinson Bette S. Weidman, Associate Professor of English and Director of American Studies at Queens College, CUNY, will discuss the serene beauty as well as the historical, cultural and social significance of the poetry of one of America’s premier poets and poetic innovators, Emily Dickinson (1830-1886). Handouts of Dickinson’s poetry will be distributed, and a question-and-answer session will follow the lecture. Light refreshments will be served. Friday, April 17 4:00 p.m. Douglaston-Little Neck 249-01 Northern Boulevard Little Neck 718-225-8414 Train: LIRR / Bus: Q12, N20, N21 10024poster-2/15 Library Hours Mon./Thur. 12-8 Tue. 1-6 Wed. /Fri. 10-6 Sat./Sun Closed Admission is free. www.queenslibrary.org This event is sponsored by Friends of Douglaston-Little Neck Community Library in celebration of National Poetry Month. Queens Library is an independent, not-for-profit corporation and is not affiliated with any other library system.
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