TIMES, THURSDAY, MAY 15, 2014 • 28 Former FDNY Chief Named New Fire Commish Incoming Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro (at podium) was introduced by Mayor Bill de Blasio (third from left) at a press conference last Friday, May 9. City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley (at far left), chair of the Council’s Fire and Criminal Justice Committee, participated in the proceedings. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 11- of tremendous hardship, and I couldn’t be prouder to lead this team of heroic New Yorkers,” Nigro said in a statement. “Our courageous firefighters sacrifice to protect this city each day, and I will ensure these first responders are protected and cared for as well. The mayor has outlined a strong vision for the future of this department—one that provides for all our residents equally and reflects our city’s diverse communities—and I look forward to making this vision a reality,” the incoming commissioner added. “Every day, New York City’s bravest rush toward danger to protect our children, parents and neighbors—and the FDNY’s heroic men and women deserve a leader who shares their unwavering commitment to this noble profession,” de Blasio said. “Our administration is committed to building on this department’s impressive record, increasing diversity in the ranks, and improving response time—and I know Daniel has what it takes to lead the FDNY forward,” de Blasio added. Council Member Elizabeth Crowley, chair of the Council Committee on Fire and Criminal Justice Services, which oversees the FDNY praised the mayor’s selection to lead the FDNY. “I commend Mayor de Blasio on his appointment of Daniel Nigro as the new FDNY commissioner,” Crowley said in a statement. Queens raised, Nigro has held nearly every FDNY rank since he began a career in the department in 1969. Nigro grew up in Bayside, the son of an FDNY Capt. and currently lives in Whitestone. “Mr. Nigro has a strong, well respected record serving in the (Twitter photo, @ElizCrowleyNYC) department, and pioneered the integration of EMS into the FDNY,” Crowley said of the appointment “From reducing EMS response time, to fixing our 911 call system, to increasing workforce diversity, especially in hiring more women––we have a lot to do in the fire department. I look forward to working with our new Commissioner to make the necessary reforms to keep New Yorkers safe,” she added. Nigro’s colleagues praised the appointment as well. “Dan Nigro is a good friend and an outstanding choice to be the next Fire Commissioner,” Fire Commissioner Salvatore J. Cassano said in a statement. “We spoke yesterday and I pledged my full support both in the transition that will take place in the next few weeks and as he leads the department in the years to come,” he added. Midville ATM Breach Eyed At CB 5 Public Safety Meet -CONTINUED FROM PG. 8- claiming $27,000 in the precinct with seven out of eight people falling victim to it, Manson stated. Residents are receiving calls from outside the U.S. posing as IRS, Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) or utility company agents threating imprisonment, fines or service termination if supposed fines or late bills are not paid off immediately. Victims are asked to buy a Green Dot Money Card from 7-Eleven, Walgreens, or CVS, with up to $5,000 on it and give the suspects the serial number. As soon as they hand over the serial number, Manson noted, the money is gone. Scammers have also called masquerading as relatives in distress and in need of emergency funds. Tow trucks are facing extra enforcement by the 104th Precinct, Manson stated. Several trucks were seized and drivers were ticketed and/or arrested for speeding, parking, and illegal solicitation. Manson said there’s been “more action against tow trucks in the past six months than there’s been in the past 4 years.” In conjunction with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero program, which aims at zero pedestrian and traffic fatalities, the 104th Precinct is paying close attention to traffic and pedestrian accidents. Manson claimed a decrease in said accidents in the precint. With spring having arrived, the precinct is teaming up with Brooklyn’s 75th Precinct to make sure Highland Park is cleared out by 9 p.m. and will be patrolling the park through the night. Stolen cars are up citywide, particularly in Glendale, 70 percent of which were 10 years or older, the captain noted. Auto break-ins are up 600 percent from 2013 for the week of Apr. 28 through May 5, with seven total break-ins for the week this year compared to one in 2013. Manson said, “we’re victims of our own success.” Tires and rims were stolen most, followed by accessories and property inside the car. Glendale has had the most break-ins, followed by Ridgewood. Additionally, two stores were shut down last month for selling alcohol to minors via nuisance abatement proceedings, according to Det. Thomas Bell of the 104th Precinct Community Affairs Unit. Mt. Everest Deli at 56-09 Myrtle Ave. in Ridgewood was shut down, but has since opened with restrictions. Apulum Bar at 1819 Palmetto St. in Ridgewood was closed as of May 12. If You See Breaking News On Your Block... Contact The Times Newsweekly Call 1-718-821-7500 • Email [email protected] 104th Precinct Blotter criminal trespass, by P.O. Bianchini. (Beat 4) Ramon Urena, at Putnam Avenue, for assault, by P.O. Martinez. May 8: (Beat 10) Jonathan Delgado, at 61st Street and 57th Road, for DWI, by P.O. Maksimiak. (Beat 15) Francisco Gonzalez, at Harman Street, for criminal trespass, by P.O. Hynes. (Beat 13) Dennis Ramos, at Cypress Avenue and Hart Street, for criminal possession of a weapon, by P.O. Sullivan. May 9: (Beat 2) Edgard Vasquez, at Fairview Avenue, for assault, by P.O. DeFreitas. (Beat 15) Luis Santos, at Forest Avenue and Grove Street, for disorderly conduct, by P.O. Maksimiak. (Beat 13) Tsultrim Gyatso, at Woodward Avenue and Troutman Street, for aggravated unlicensed operator, by P.O. vincent. (Beat 3) Richard Giglio, at Norman Street and Seneca Avenue, for aggravated unlicensed operator, by P.O. DiGeorgio. (Beat 14) Zechira Notice, at Metropolitan Avenue, for petit larceny, by P.O. Mamanicampos. May 10: (Beat 16) Nicholas Estrada, at Woodhaven Boulevard and Union Turnpike, for unauthorized use of a vehicle, by P.O. Keane. (Beat 9) Keanu Ayala, at Grand Avenue and 72nd Street, for assault, by P.O. Jonas. (Beat 5) Orlando Laureano, at 67th Street, for assault, by P.O. Hayes. (Beat 5) Jesus Rivera, at 68th Place, for sex abuse, by P.O. Dupont. May 11: (Beat 5) Elizabeth Barcene, at 62nd Street, for assault, by P.O. Quintanilla. (Beat 2) Fernando Olmedo, at St. Nicholas and Myrtle avenues, for aggravated unlicensed operator, by P.O. Cumur. (Beat 5) Ismael Badillo, at Vermont Place and Cypress Avenue, for DWI, by P.O. Lewis. The 104th Precinct, located at 64- 02 Catalpa Ave. in Ridgewood, can be reached by phone at 1-718-386-3004. To report an emergency or a crime in progress, call 911 immediately. Quality of life matters, such as noise or a blocked driveway, should be -CONTINUED FROM PG. 11- Councilman Wills Indicted For Scam $30,000 in funds provided by the city’s Campaign Finance Board (CFB) and the state Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). According to the indictment, Wills allegedly pocketed $30,000 in city and state funds, spending some of it on luxury items such as a $750 Louis Vuitton handbag purchased from Macy’s department store. “The crimes Mr. Wills is accused of committing represent a shameful breach of the trust his constituents placed in him,” Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in announcing the charges last Wednesday afternoon. “New Yorkers are repeatedly asked to have faith in our leaders, and it appears that faith has been shattered once again.” “Public funds intended to help people were allegedly used for shopping trips to high-end stores,” added State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. “Charges such as these are an insult to the Councilman’s constituents and to the taxpayers who paid the bills.” During his 2009 campaign for the City Council seat he now holds, prosecutors said, then-candidate Wills received matching funds from the CFB, a portion of which ($11,500) was paid to a company called Micro Targeting. Though Wills claimed Micro Targeting translated and distributed campaign material, it was reported, the entity was actually a shell company that enabled Mills to redirect the proceeds to the nonprofit organization NY 4 Life. Mills founded NY 4 Life, which was part of former State Sen. Shirley Huntley’s scheme to steal $33,000 in funds from the OCFS. Wills previously served as Huntley’s chief of staff. Huntley served a one-year prison term after allegedly cooperating with prosecutors in ongoing investigations of public corruption. After the $13,000 in funds were redirected by Mills into NY 4 Life’s bank account, authorities said, Wills began using the proceeds for his own personal benefit. The Wills campaign provided false documents to the CFB indicating that it purportedly spent city funds according to the law. Schneiderman noted that Wills allegedly kept $19,000 of the $33,000 provided to NY 4 Life by the OCFS for four public service projects. Law enforcement sources said one program costing $14,000 was actually conducted by the nonprofit group. It is alleged that Wills used the state funds for political and personal expenses, including purchases made at Nordstrom and Century 21 department stores. As with the CFB, NY 4 Life reportedly provided the OCFS with false documents indicating purported, lawful expenditures that were never made. Wills was arrested last Wednesday morning on charges of third-degree grand larceny, firstdegree scheme to defraud, first-degree falsifying business records and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. Mills was charged with third-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records. Each of them face up to seven years behind bars if convicted. Investigators Gerard Matheson and Angel LaPorte, supervised by Chief Investigator Dominick Zarrella of the Attorney General’s Investigations Bureau, conducted the inquiry with the assistance of Analyst KerryAnn Rodriguez and Investigative Analyst Brian Selfon. Assisting in the investigation were the State Comptroller’s Investigation Unit and the Bureau of State Expenditures. Schneiderman thanked the city Department of Investigation, the CFB and the OCFS for their assistance. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Jerrold L. Steigman and Rachel Doft of the Public Integrity Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Daniel G. Cort and Deputy Bureau Chief Stacy Aronowitz and the overall supervision of Executive Deputy Attorney General Kelly Donovan. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 12-
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