20 THE QUEENS COURIER • OCTOBER 28, 2021 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
Adams calls for increased penalties on harassment against correction offi cers
BY BILL PARRY
bparry@schnepsmedia.com
@QNS
As the humanitarian crisis on Rikers
Island has claimed the lives of 14 incarcerated
Suozzi honors Bayside police offi cers at annual Hometown Heroes ceremony
BY JENNA BAGCAL
jbagcal@schnepsmedia.com
@@jenna_bagca
Two Bayside-based police offi cers were honored last week
among 11 “Hometown Heroes” from Queens and Long
Island.
On Th ursday, Oct. 14, Congressman Tom Suozzi recognized
PO Michael Miron and PO Joseph Buompastore for
their “exemplary heroism” at the lawmaker’s second annual
Hometown Heroes ceremony. Th e offi cers from the 111th
Precinct apprehended criminals in two separate incidents
earlier this year.
“Every day, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, members
of our local police departments are protecting us and serving
us. Police have some of the hardest jobs in the country.
Th ese are tough times for them. We must support them and
understand they are protecting our community. We cannot
allow ‘defund the police’ or anti-police rhetoric to discourage
them,” said Suozzi. “Today, we are highlighting just a few
police offi cers who represent the good work done by members
of our local police departments every day, and we say,
‘thank you.’”
Th e fi rst incident took place in the early morning of May
22, when Miron and Buompastore responded to a call about
a man who attempted to climb through the side window of
a house while the homeowner was in her kitchen. According
to the offi cers, they located and apprehended the perpetrator
while he was searching for another location to break into.
Th ree months later on Aug. 20, the pair responded to a
commercial burglary at Dunkin’ Donuts where a man shattered
the front door and entered the store. Th e offi cers found
the man behind the counter with the hammer in hand and
took him into custody.
In addition to these police offi cers, Suozzi honored and
thanked nine others from Glen Cove, Nassau County and
Suff olk County. Th e offi cers were presented with a fl ag that
was fl own over the U.S. Capitol and a Congressional citation.
Here is the full list of honorees:.
NYPD, 111th Precinct: PO Michael Miron; PO Joseph
Buompastore
Nassau County Police Department: PO Jorge Barco
Suff olk County Police Department (Emergency Service
Section Offi cers): Lt. Th omas Zagajeski; Sgt. Ryan Seft on;
PO Kevin Williamson; PO Daniel Colondona; PO Keith
Jordan; PO Michael Cummings
Glen Cove Police Department: PO Mathew Grabowski;
Detective Brian Glennon
individuals already this year,
Councilwoman Adrienne Adams joined
the executive board of the Correction
Offi cers’ Benevolent Association, including
its president Benny Boscio, on Oct.
25 to announce new legislative actions
to deter the ongoing sexual assaults and
harassment perpetrated against correction
offi cers inside New York City jails.
Adams, the chair of the Committee of
Public Safety, plans to introduce a resolution
calling on the governor and state
Legislature to amend the New York State
Penal Law to make forcible touching of
a correction offi cer a felony instead of a
Class A misdemeanor.
Th e resolution will also call on the state
to amend the penal code to make aggravated
sexual harassment against a correction
offi cer, including verbal abuse and
lewd gestures, a Class A misdemeanor.
Currently, it is only a civil infraction.
Adams also plans to introduce legislation
requiring the Department of Correction to
track and publicly report data on sexual
assaults that occur inside city jails. Th e
bill will require the DOC to be more transparent
and accountable for sexual assaults
that take place under their supervision.
“Correction offi cers have been abused,
violated and completely traumatized by
vicious acts of sexual assault and harassment,
oft en without consequences, on
Rikers Island. Th eir stories of facing physical
and emotional violence on the job are
deeply disturbing, disgraceful and wholly
unacceptable,” Adams said. “Aft er hearing
from the courageous women about what
they have endured for years, I knew I had
to shine a light on the issue, which has not
received enough attention.”
Adams has a deep understanding of the
challenges faced by correction offi cers in
the city. Her mother was a longtime correction
offi cer, who retired as a captain in
the department.
“My proposed legislation will discourage
detainees from committing these heinous
acts against correction offi cers, and fi nally
force the Department of Correction to
reveal the extent to which sexual assaults
occur under their watch,” Adams said.
“I’m grateful to the Correction Offi cers’
Benevolent Association, especially our
women leaders, for bravely sharing their
accounts of working under these wretched
conditions and standing up for their colleagues.
We can never tolerate or accept
sexual abuse and harassment, whether it’s
in our communities or in our city’s jails.”
During the press briefi ng at the entrance
to Rikers Island, women leaders on the
COBA Executive Board detailed the hostile
and toxic environment that correction
offi cers are forced to work in, as well
as the physical and emotional abuse they
endure on a daily basis. Th ey also shared
horror stories of female correction offi cers
who were groped, molested and even had
fl uids thrown at them.
Th ey expressed support for the impending
legislation and called for more
resources, services and care for the correction
offi cers who are survivors of sexual
assault and abuse.
Read more on QNS.com.
Photo courtesy of Adams’ offi ce
Councilwoman Adrienne Adams and COBA leadership demand increased penalties on sexual assaults
and harassment against correction offi cers.
Photo courtesy of Suozzi’s offi ce
From left: Congressman Tom Suozzi, PO Michael Miron, Joseph Buompastore and 111th Precinct Commanding Offi cer Captain John
Portalatin
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