SHB_p007

SC10292015

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com october 29, 2015 • The Courier sun 7 104th Precinct cracks down on illegal guns and prostitution BY KELLY MARIE MANCUSO editorial@queenscourier.com @KellyMMancuso The success of the NYPD’s Vision Zero initiative was celebrated at the Oct. 20 104th Precinct Community Council meeting after it was revealed that a handgun was recovered during a routine traffic stop in Glendale. According to Capt. Mark Wachter, commanding officer of the precinct, the gun was discovered after the suspect was pulled over for making an illegal U-turn near the intersection of Woodhaven Boulevard and Union Turnpike on Oct. 17. Police presence in the area was already stepped up due to a motorcycle fatality at the intersection earlier that day. Sgt. Martha Lequerica and Police Officer Ock arrested the out-of-state driver and recovered the weapon, as well as a large amount of cash in the vehicle. “This is an example of how a very minor offense leads to taking a gun off the street,” Wachter explained. “It shows that sometimes the little things that we focus on can lead to much bigger offenses. If we didn’t take that gun that night, where would it wind up?” During an open forum, the captain addressed the ongoing battle against illegal massage parlors throughout the command. A resident identified as Kerry A. voiced concerns about prostitution and human sex trafficking in the neighborhood as a result of the so-called “day spas,” citing 69-29 Myrtle Ave. in Glendale as a particularly problematic location. “This has been an ongoing issue over many years,” she said. “They do not belong in the landscape of Glendale. A lot of these places are open 24 hours. You have people coming into the neighborhood at 4 o’clock in the morning looking for sexual services.” According to Wachter, the vice enforcement division has been conducting several ongoing investigations into numerous parlors, resulting in 31 arrests and the closing of seven businesses in the past year alone. Arrests were made on the grounds of offering unlicensed massages, offers to perform sex acts or a combination of both. “There are active investigations going on in a majority of these places,” Wachter explained. “Most of these investigations are in cooperation with the DA’s office, and some of these are federal investigations.” In addition to enforcement, Wachter explained that suspects arrested in these cases are debriefed in a one-on-one interview with an officer and a translator, if needed, to see whether they are victims of human sex trafficking, as well as identify a potential funnel of money back to a larger operation in another country. According to the captain, nearly 80 officers in the precinct were also given special training by an expert to help identify signs of human trafficking. “I am trying to solve it,” Wachter added. “If I can get 69-29 closed, that would be a start.” Wachter and the council also honored P.O. Jason Egnacyk and P.O. Jack Dagnese with the Cop of the Month award for numerous collective Photos by Kelly Marie Mancuso (l to r): Captain Mark Wachter, P.O. Jason McKevitt, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and P.O. Samantha Anderson. arrests over the past two months. According to Wachter, the duo made between 13 and 15 “quality arrests,” including four narcotics busts and the recovery of two guns and a switchblade (l to r): Captain Mark Wachter, Cops of the Month P.O. Jason Egnacyk and P.O. Jack Dagnese, and 104th Precinct Community Council President Len Santoro. in the two-month period. Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley also awarded P.O. Jason McKevitt and P.O. Samantha Anderson with special citations from the City Council for their Captain Mark Wachter with the board members of the 104th Precinct Community Council at their monthly meeting at the Shops at Atlas Park in Glendale on Oct. 20. help with the Gladys Ricart Brides’ March to End Domestic Violence, held at Atlas Park on Sept. 26, as well as for their efforts to reduce domestic violence in the community at large. INCREASE YOUR HEALTH BENEFITS, NOT YOUR COSTS The Healthfirst Increased Benefits Plan (HMO) With this Medicare Advantage plan, you could pay as little as $0 for better benefits than Medicare—if you currently receive Extra Help. Call to enroll or set up an in-person meeting! 1-855-725-3341 (TTY 1-888-542-3821) 7 days a week, 8am-8pm. Visit www.YourHFIBP.org Managed Health, Inc., dba Healthfirst Medicare Plan, offers HMO plans that contract with the Federal Government. Enrollment in Healthfirst Medicare Plan depends on contract renewal. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description, of benefits. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits may change on January 1 of each year. Premiums, copays, coinsurance, and deductibles may vary based on the level of Extra Help you receive. Please contact the plan for further details. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call our Member Services number at 1-888-260-1010, TTY number 1-888-542-3821, 7 days a week, from 8am to 8pm. Esta información está disponible en forma gratuita en otros idiomas. Por favor, comuníquese con nuestro número de Servicios a los Miembros al 1-888-260-1010, o al 1-888-867-4132 para los usuarios de TTY, los 7 días de la semana, de 8:00 a.m. a 8:00 p.m. © 2015 HF Management Services, LLC. NYMED00939 H3359_MKT16_32 Accepted 09202015


SC10292015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above