18 The Queens Courier • APRIL 17, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com “HERO” COP MOURNED BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA AND ERIC JANKIEWICZ editorial@queenscourier.com A police officer who died after responding to a Brooklyn fire was remembered in Far Rockaway as a heroic member of the force, dedicated to his job and family. Loved ones, city officials and thousands of NYPD officers were among those who came out to say goodbye to 38-yearold Bayswater resident Dennis Guerra at his funeral, held at St. Rose of Lima Church on Monday, April 14. “Thank you to all those who are here to remember the heroic and courageous acts of Officer Guerra,” Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said, before announcing the posthumous promotion of Guerra to firstgrade detective. “God bless Dennis who was once, and forever will be, an officer in blue.” Bratton then recounted Guerra’s ascent up the law enforcement ladder, from a school safety officer, to a corrections officer, and finally to a police officer over eight years ago. “We’ll always remember with sadness that day he left us but we’ll also remember the courage he displayed,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at the service. “Dennis is an example for us all.” Among the many politicians who attended the funeral were Comptroller Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Letitia James, Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson. Curtis Mitchell, Guerra’s brother in-law, also spoke during the funeral, and described how the officer would cook for the whole family on weekends and became known as the “grill master.” “He was recently called a hero,” Mitchell said. “But to his family, he was always a hero and forever will be.” “I wish I had another chance to say, ‘I love you,’” he continued. The fallen cop, who left behind a wife and four children, aged 7 to 20, died last Wednesday after being overcome with smoke from an April 6 arson fire in Coney Island. Guerra and fellow housing officer Rosa Rodriguez, 36, were critically injured in a blaze at a Surf Avenue housing development when the elevator doors opened on the 13th floor and the officers were engulfed in smoke. Both officers suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning and the effects of smoke inhalation. Rodriguez reportedly remains hospitalized. Marcell Dockery, who lives in the housing development where the deadly fire started, was indicted on a charge of second-degree murder Friday, according to published reports. He was already charged with arson, assault and reckless endangerment. The teen allegedly lit a mattress on fire because he was “bored,” reports said. SUNNYSIDE TO SHINE WITH 2 NEW PLAZAS BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com @aaltamirano28 Sunnyside will soon have two new public spaces that residents can enjoy during the summer. Last year, the Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District (BID) applied for the Department of Transportation’s NYC Plaza Program and early this month were notified that the applications were accepted. “Through this innovative program, we will expand the amount of public space that is available to everyone in the community,” Councilman JimmyVan Bramer said. “I look forward to working with Sunnyside Shines BID, members of the community, and local arts groups to bring the space to life through a diverse array of public events, programming and cultural performances.” The plazas will be located under the elevated No. 7 train line at 40th Street and Queens Boulevard, and 46th Street and Queens Boulevard. Both locations currently are closed to vehicles. The Sunnyside Shines BID will work as the nonprofit partner to maintain the plazas and program yearly community events and activities in it. “As more and more New Yorkers come to know Sunnyside as a great place to live, work and play, I’m sure exciting announcements like the forthcoming public plazas will keep on coming,” Senator Michael Gianaris said. These two public plazas will receive improvements such as planters, benches and movable tables and chairs in order to create public gathering places for the neighborhood. “The NYC Plaza Program has done a tremendous job creating new usable, public spaces throughout the city, and we are thrilled to bring this innovative program to Sunnyside,” said Rachel Thieme, executive director of Sunnyside Shines. “We look forward to making these spaces more vibrant public places in the neighborhood.” A community outreach meeting to go over design and programming options is scheduled for Wednesday, April 30, at 6:30 p.m. at Sunnyside Community Services, located at 43-13 39th St. Photo Courtesy of Sunnyside Shines Spaces that were used last year for Sunnyside’s Make Music New York event will now be converted into two new public plazas for the neighborhood. THE COURIER/Photos by Eric Jankiewicz A funeral was held for Officer Dennis Guerra in his hometown of Far Rockaway after he died from injuries sustained from an arson fire in Coney Island.
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