4 MARCH 5, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
Holden calls for investigation after police make
slow response to Glendale school’s 911 calls
BY MAX PARROTT
MPARROTT@SCHNEPSMEDIA.COM
@QNS
Councilman Robert Holden called on the NYPD
higher ups to investigate the 104th Precinct’s
slow response to a report about a “suspicious
man” at Glendale school on Tuesday, Feb. 25.
Though there was no harm to the student body at
Sacred Heart Catholic Academy when a man who
“seemed a little off ” wandered on campus, Holden
blasted the precinct for taking several hours to
respond to the school aft er they called to report the
incident and ask for a police presence at dismissal.
The faculty subsequently placed two calls to 911 to
report the incident and request a police presence at
dismissal, but no offi cers arrived until aft er 4 p.m.
According to the 104th Precinct, a car accident with injuries
took priority over the situation at the school.
“Regardless of whether or not the man knocking
on the door was actually a danger to the school,
the staff felt concerned enough to call 911, and that
should have warranted an immediate response,”
Holden wrote in a statement. “I have since been in
contact with NYPD Patrol Borough Queens North
and the Commissioner’s offi ce, and I will make sure
that everyone who dropped the ball in this case is
held accountable.”
Holden wrote that the precinct did not let him know
until the next day that the car accident with injuries
had stalled the response to the school’s calls.
According to accounts by Principal Joanne Gangi Sacred Heart Catholic Academy. Courtesy of Holden’s offi ce
and Holden’s staff , a man knocked on the front door carrying an extension
pole for a paint roller and a satchel of tools at 12:30 p.m. asking for directions to
Forest Hills. He eventually left the premises looking confused, but the encounter
alarmed several members of the staff .
A faculty member called the precinct to make a report. Then, two hours later,
with no police response, a second 911 call was made to request a police presence
at dismissal. Police still did not arrive until aft er 4 p.m.
Holden also expressed frustration over the local precinct’s lack of communication
with his offi ce. He called the commanding offi cer shortly aft er the incident
took place, but never received a call back.
“I am extremely frustrated with the lack of response and urgency from the
104th Precinct,” Holden added. “In this day and age with many school threats
occurring, this was a test of whether or not the precinct was prepared, and it
failed miserably.”
Aft er not hearing from the precinct, the school took the precaution of enlisting
several parents to facilitate dismissal. The faculty followed crisis management
protocol to address the situation.
QNS reached out to the 104th Precinct for comment and is awaiting a
response.
Board 5 to meet March 11
Community Board 5 will meet
next week in Middle Village,
where residents can attend and
participate a public forum.
As announced by District Manager
Gary Giordano, the session takes place
at 7:30 p.m. on March 11 in the cafeteria
of Christ the King High School, located
at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave.
The meeting will start with a salute
to the fl ag, followed by the public
forum at 7:35 p.m. Speakers must
pre-register by calling or emailing
the Bord 5 offi ce or registering at
the podium prior to the start of the
meeting.
Following the public forum will be
the chairperson’s report by Vincent
Acuri, Jr., and the district manager’s
report by Gary Giordano. The meeting
will end with committee reports
and a discussion on old and new
business.
For additional information or to
register to speak in advance, call the
CB 5 offi ce at 718-366-1834.
Ridgewood Property Owners
& Civic Association
,.
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Queens Borough President Candidate Forum
Thursday, March 12, 2020, 7pm-9pm
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59-14 70th Avenue
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Come Meet and Hear the Invited
Candidates for Queens Borough President
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