6 TIMES • MARCH 19 - mARCH 25, 2015 Captains exchange the baton at 104th Precinct Council meeting in Ridgewood BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO The changing of the guard at the 104th Precinct became official during Tuesday night’s 104th Precinct Community Council meeting at Ridgewood’s Peter Cardella Senior Center. Capt. Christopher Manson, who led the Ridgewood based command for 26 months, handed over the reigns to the new commander, Capt. Mark Wachter. In what he joked was a “secret” NYPD ceremony, Manson presented Wachter with the commander’s pin, which is worn by all commanding officers on the lapel opposite their shields. Manson, who was transferred to the 110th Precinct in Elmhurst, reflected fondly on his time at the 104th Precinct. “I enjoyed myself thoroughly working with this community over the past two years,” he said. “We are showing reductions in some of the major crime categories and I’m sure the trend will continue under Captain Wachter.” The Community Council thanked Manson and presented him with a plaque in appreciation of his service. They then introduced Wachter and turned the meeting over to him. “I’m very happy to be here. It’s like coming back home to the old neighborhood,” Wachter said. Wachter was raised in Glendale where he attended St. Pancras School and Christ the King High School. Heoined the NYPD in 1996 and previously served as the executive officer of the 110th Precinct in Corona, 114th Precinct in Astoria and 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights. Most recently, Wachter served as the commanding officer of the Citi Field Detail in Flushing. His team provided security and traffic details during Mets home games, as well as conducted crime control operations throughout Queens while the Mets were on the road. “Captain Manson left us in a very good place. I hope to continue that,” he said. “Every major category of crime is down. We’re going to try and continue Captain Manson’s strategies.” One such strategy Captain Wachter hopes to build upon is increasing community awareness and outreach: “We look at the crimes as numbers, but each number is actually a person.” This change in leadership comes on the heels of a very eventful two-week period in the 104th Precinct. “I went out with a bang, that’s for sure,” Captain Manson quipped. Manson addressed Saturday’s shooting outside the Arena Pool Hall on Palmetto Street and St. Nicholas Avenue in which 21-year-old Eric Santiago was shot in his stomach. Santiago sustained a ruptured abdominal artery and succumbed to his injuries seven hours later at Wyckoff Hospital. Manson believes the shooting was the result of gang involvement in Brooklyn. “This isn’t a random shooting,” he said. “He was an intended target. I don’t think they wanted to kill him but rather send a message.” Wachter praised the new gun detection technology unveiled earlier in the week by Mayor Bill de Blasio and Commissioner Bill Bratton as a “great tool” in combating such incidents of gun violence. Under the new ShotSpotter system, sensors installed on light poles and buildings would be able to detect and triangulate gunshots, as well as alert NYPD officers via Smartphone or tablet devices. The technology aims to increase response time and accuracy. The program is currently in pilot phases in areas of the Bronx and Brooklyn. NYPD also changes commanders at 102nd and 110th precincts By Robert Pozarycki rpozarycki@queenscourier.com The NYPD shuffled the deck among its commanding officers at three local precincts this week. As Capt. Christopher Manson moves on to the 110th Precinct, Deputy Inspector Ronald Leyson—who led the Elmhurst-based patrol for more than two years—was reassigned to the NYPD Queens North Detective Bureau in Forest Hills Leyson bid farewell to residents, while Manson made his introduction to them, during Thursday’s 110th Precinct Community Council meeting in Corona. Both officials took to Twitter to extend their gratitude to the communities they served. “I have been transferred to the 110 Pct and wish to thank the officers of the 104th Pct and the community for 2 years of pleasure and honor,” Manson tweeted. “To my 3,200 followers, thank you for helping me share important info, good work & events of the 110th Pct (I had some fun with it, too),” Leyson tweeted. “As my final tweet – to the men & women of the #110Pct -it has been my honor & privilege to work with you-thank you for making a difference!” Meanwhile, a familiar face took the reins at the 104th Precinct: Capt. Mark Wachter, who as recently as 2010 served as the precinct’s special operations coordinator. Most recently, he led the NYPD’s special Citi Field command, which coordinates policing at the home of the New York Mets. Additionally, the NYPD named Deputy Inspector Deodat Urprasad, formerly commander of investigations at NYPD Patrol Borough Manhattan South, as the 102nd Precinct’s new commander. Urprasad takes the reins at the Richmond Hill-based command from Deputy Inspector Henry Sautner, who moved on to the NYPD Brooklyn Detective Bureau after more than two years of service at the 102. Photo by Kelly Marie Mancuso Members of the 104th Precinct Community Council presented Capt. Christopher Manson, the precinct’s former commander, with a plaque honoring his two years of service to the precinct. Joining them at the presentation is the 104th Precinct’s new commander, Capt. Mark Wachter. Photo courtesy of 110th Precinct Community Council Deputy Inspector Ronald Leyson (at left) and Capt. Christopher Manson at last Thursday’s 110th Precinct Community Council meeting. Capt. Mark Wachter (second from right), the new 104th Precinct commander, is pictured meeting with Community Board 5 District Manager Gary Giordano (at right) and Assistant District Manager Cathy O’Leary (second from left). Also pictured is Det. Thomas Bell of the 104th Precinct.
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