Street renaming honors slain Corrections offi cer
Hundreds salute Jonathan Narain as memorial marker unveiled on Richmond Hill street
BY BILL PARRY
Row after row of correction
officers stood at attention in
South Richmond Hill Sunday
as the community honored
on of its own with a street
co-naming ceremony on the
corner of 111th Street and
107th Avenue which is now
known as Correction Officer
Jonathan Narain Way.
On Sept. 14, 2018, the offduty
officer was shot and
killed in a road rage incident
on his way to work at Rikers
Island. Narain was 27.
“Correction Officer
Jonathan Narain, like first
responders and our soldiers,
served quietly and behind the
scenes,” City Councilwoman
Adrienne Adams said. “The
act of willingly going to work
every day to protect the safety
of others is an act of heroism.
There are not enough words to
honor Jonathan’s life. People
who never had the good
fortune of meeting Jonathan
Narain will learn all about his
life and what he stood for.”
Family and friends
remembered Narain as more
than just a dedicated officer
but also an active member of
the community.
The Richmond Hill High
School graduate was called
a cornerstone in his family
and a neighborhood that
was once again touched by
gun violence.
“Jonathan Narain devoted
his career to public service
and promoting public safety,
so it is especially tragic that
we have lost such a great
man due to a senseless act
of gun violence,” Queens
Borough President Melinda
Katz said. “It is therefore
most fitting that we honor
Jonathan through this street
co-naming. From this day
forward people traveling
through this intersection
will see Jonathan’s name and
hopefully take time to reflect
on his devotion to our city.”
Two days after the
shooting, Gifford Hunter, 30,
Correction officers honor their fallen comrade Jonathan Narain at
a ceremony in Richmond Hill on May 5. Courtesy of Adams’ offi ce
of St. Albans was arrested
and charged with Narain’s
murder. Dozens of correction
officers packed the courtroom
during the arraignment in
a show of support for their
fallen comrade.
“The Narain family would
like to extend an invitation
to all family, friends, coworkers
and members of
the community who shared
memories of Jonathan
Narain’s unforgettable life,”
his brother Jason said. “We
share his everlasting memory
in the afterlife by co-naming
11th Street where he was born,
raised and lived.”
Department of Correction
Commissioner Cynthia Brann
said his death left a void in
the hearts and minds of the
Narain and DOC families.
“Co-naming this street
corner Correction Officer
Jonathan Narain Way ensures
that our fallen brother will
never be forgotten.”
City Councilman I. Daneek
Miller spoke of Narain’s noble
spirit and Assemblyman
David Weprin remembered
his legacy of dedication
and integrity.
“Law enforcement officers
pledge to serve the public
good and put their lives on a
daily basis,” Assemblywoman
Michele Titus added. “Heroes
like Correction Officer
Jonathan Narain must
never be forgotten, and conaming
the Southeast corner
of 111th Street and 107th
Avenue is a fitting tribute
that will help ensure that
he is always remembered by
the community.
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TIMESLEDGER,QNS.COM MAY 10-16, 2019 13
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