Community Affairs Officer Samuel Perez of the 49th Precinct was honored in January for his unstinting dedication to the people of the community and for the great success of the Toys for Tots program.
Perez accepted the January 2010 Cop of the Month Award, sponsored by Senator Jeff Klein, at the Tuesday, January 26 49th Precinct Community Council meeting.The monthly award acknowledges officers who go above and beyond the call of duty.
Perez, as he had before, volunteered to dress up as Santa Claus and hand out the toys to all the good boys and girls.Most of the toys were distributed at Bronx House on Saturday, December 19.The rest were distributed to pediatric patients at Jacobi Medical Center.Perez also dressed up as Santa for the Neighborhood Initiatives Development Corporation.
He deserved to be honored not only for his holiday work, but also for the safety lectures he regularly delivers at schools and senior centers, 49th Precinct Captain John Greeley said. Perez coordinates numerous seminars and crime prevention workshops for the community.
Perez is a 17-year veteran of the 49th Precinct and has been a community affairs officer for two years.
“Being that I am community affairs, it was a huge surprise to me that I was chosen by the captain and I appreciated it,” Perez said.“I don’t do it for the awards, I do those things because it’s my job.”
Reach reporter Amanda Marinaccio at 718 742-3394 or amarinaccio@cnglocal.com
