26 The Queens Courier • JUNE 27, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Hero cop released from hospital Police officer Joseph Koch — who was shot while responding to a domestic violence incident on Father’s Day — was released from Jamaica Hospital Medical Center on Friday, June 21. A wall of blue greeted the hero cop as he was wheeled out and accompanied by his daughter Angeline and fiancee Linda. Koch, 29, was leaving the home of his fiancee’s father on South Road in Jamaica on Sunday, June 16 when he saw a 10-year-old boy run out of a nearby house and shout for help. The boy claimed his mother was being assaulted inside, police said. Koch went into the home and found Jose Bernazard, 40, attacking his former girlfriend and the boy’s mother, Christina Rodriguez. According to District Attorney Richard Brown, Bernazard broke into Rodriguez’s home and attacked her and her son. Neighbor Angela Richards said Bernazard, of Brooklyn, slashed the woman across her forehead. It was not the first time Bernazard allegedly went after Rodriguez. In January 2012, Rodriguez was asleep in her home and awoke to find Bernazard on top of her. He allegedly choked and repeatedly punched her. After the arrest for that incident, Bernazard was released on his own recognizance and served an order of protection, Brown said. After Koch heard the boy’s screams for help, he entered the home with his gun drawn. Bernazard attacked, going for the gun. Three shots were fired during the struggle, one hitting Koch’s left hand. Another bullet struck Bernazard’s stomach, police said. Police Officer Joseph Koch was released from Jamaica Hospital late last week to applause from fellow NYPD. CANDID CAMERA Following the incident, Bernazard was charged with five counts of assault, five counts of criminal contempt, aggravated harassment, burglary, PHOTO BY DOMINICK TOTINO PHOTOGRAPHY endangering the welfare of a child and resisting arrest. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison. $2 million to install NYPD cameras around Queens BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com Smile, criminals. You’re on camera. Borough President Helen Marshall has allocated $2 million to install NYPD surveillance cameras in 57 locations throughout Queens to help fight crime. “These new cameras will give police more eyes on the street,” Marshall said. “They will be a fantastic deterrent to crime and greatly help our police to solve crimes and apprehend offenders. After all, the camera doesn’t lie!” In announcing the initiative, Marshall noted the role of cameras in finding suspects in the Boston Marathon bombings. She said she hopes the extra surveillance will help reduce gun violence in the borough. The Argus cameras, funded through the Fiscal Year 2013 Capital Budget, are expected to be installed within the next 12 months. NYPD officials selected the future camera locations. The placements are based not only on crime data, but also on other factors such as the best spot for viewing and counterterrorism risk assessment, according to a borough president spokesperson. When factoring in crime data, violent offenses were given top consideration. The cameras will be installed in 11 of Queens’ 16 precincts, including eight along Roosevelt Avenue. Locals had mixed opinions about Argus. “I’ve been living here for several years now and I think crime is getting worse, so I think the cameras are a good idea,” said Maevis Trenton. “It’s not safe to walk around late at night anymore, and if people knew they were being watched maybe they would think twice before doing something stupid.” “Compared to other parts of the city, I think it’s pretty safe here,” said Jordan Brown. “I don’t think the cameras are necessary in this neighborhood, but ... I don’t have anything against the idea either.” Maqueda Tate was wary of the extra surveillance. “I don’t think it’s right for the police to be watching us all the time,” she said. “I understand that it’s for our own safety, but I don’t think there needs to be so many cameras getting installed.” -With additional reporting by Johann Hamilton DANGER IN THE SKY Near collision points to increased air traffic: pol BY MELISA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com Two planes nearly collided over Queens as one aircraft took off and another was completing a landing, officials said. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a June 13 incident in which a Delta Airlines Boeing 747 regional jet arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport at 2:40 p.m. came perilously close to a Shuttle America Embraer E170 flight departing from LaGuardia Airport. The planes were turning away from each other when they lost the required three mile separation between them, the agency said in a statement. Both landed safely, though according to published reports, the two aircraft were at one point only 200 feet apart vertically and about half a mile horizontally. The FAA said flight routes approved in December “ensure the required threemile separation” between JFK arrivals and LaGuardia departures while using a new, precise navigation system. But State Senator Tony Avella said the close call was a warning sign of public safety hazards to come if the administration continues to increase air traffic over the city. “This latest incident is indicative of this danger,” the lawmaker said. “Unfortunately, if the FAA continues to pursue this goal, near misses could become more common and lead to truly tragic events.” Fifty-seven NYPD Argus surveillance cameras like this one will be installed throughout the borough within the next year. come in for our WINTER specials DYNAMIC DENTAL WORK 718-297-4100 • 718-297-4106 175-15 JAMAICA AVENUE • JAMAICA $500 OFF $500 OFF
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