The 49th Precinct took time to honor outstanding individuals from the command and the community at its 22nd annual fellowship conference breakfast on Friday, May 21.
Captain Kevin Nicholson of the 49th Precinct presented the Police Officer of the Year Award to Monique Dulanto-Caban, the Thomas Twyman Citizen Award to Morris Park Community Association president Al D’Angelo, the Business Fellowship Award to Neighborhood Initiatives Development Corporation, the Police Administrative Aide Award to Charita Davis, the Auxiliary Police Officer of the Year Award to Curtis Campbell, Explorer of the Year Award to Jade Koreisz, and Citizen Appreciation Awards to Michael Carriere and Angela Rico.
This year’s breakfast was held at Maestro’s Caterers at 1703 Bronxdale Avenue and drew a wide array of community and business leaders from all of the 49th Precinct. Dulanto-Caban, an officer who works in the precinct’s Specialized Domestic Violence Unit, was humbled and honored to be the precinct’s rank and file top cop. “I came straight from the police academy to the 49th Precinct and have been here for eight years,” she said. “The part of my job I find especially rewarding is when I see the women I help come back and report so many positive changes in their lives.”
Dulanto-Caban’s work ethic was especially evident from her quick rise within the unit, which is considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the police department and requires patience, empathy, understanding and courage. Her work has led to over 200 arrests of violent abusers.
Jade Koreisz, who would like to eventually become an EMT technician, is part of the explorers program at the precinct which introduces young people to the discipline of police work.
“I was surprised when I heard that I had won an award,” Koreisz said. “Because of the explorers program I have more self discipline, self confidence, can speak in front of groups and am able to resolve conflicts.”
For Auxiliary Police Officer Curtis Campbell, the opportunity to serve as the eyes and ears of the police is what gets him excited about working to protect the community. Campbell used to work with a private security company in Orlando, Florida, which worked closely with the county’s sheriff’s office. When he moved to New York and started a family, he wanted to continue his work on a level slightly less intense than that of a first responder.
“I help protect the community that my family comes from,” Campbell said. “We act as the eyes and ears of the community. We patrol, and whenever we see something, we report it to central. If a criminal sees us, they are going to think twice about committing a crime.”
Captain Nicholson expressed his gratitude for the community’s support. He also noted that the command has seen a growing trend of theft from inside cars, with people leaving wallets, GPSs, and other items of value in their cars, making a easy target for thieves. He urges all people to take anything they consider valuable out of their cars when they leave them.
“It is a safe community,” Nicholson said, “but we still live in the confines of New York City, and it is not crime-free.”
Reach reporter Patrick Rocchio at (718) 742-3393.
