National Night Out Goes On Through the Storm
Story and Photos
By Katie McFadden
A little rain couldn’t stop National Night Out in Rockaway. Despite the bad weather, the show went on for the 100th Precinct Community Council’s National Night Out (NNO) event on Tuesday, August 6.
Due to the weather, the planned rides and some performances were scrapped on Tuesday, but the community still enjoyed some fun activities at the Beach 94th Amphitheater. “National Night Out was hard this year but we did our best with it under adverse conditions!” 100th Precinct Community Council President Kathy Heavey said.
The evening included plenty of resources and giveaways from police and first responder organizations, a Zumba and martial arts demonstration, DJ music, face painting, balloon animals, ices from Mara’s, popcorn, hot dogs grilled up by some of the officers, speeches from Assembly Members Stacey Pheffer Amato and Khaleel Anderson and Senator James Sanders, and the presentation of this year’s awards for some stand out officers and volunteers.
Heavey presented the award plaques. Several officers were recognized for going above and beyond in their roles. The 100th Precinct Sector of the Year Award went to Officers John Gonzalez and Wailok Wong of Sector Adam for their actions to save the life of a mortally wounded man. The 100th Precinct NCO of the Year Award went to Officer Monica Kim for conducting ops to close smoke shops selling to minors, for valuable intel gathering, for closing a burglary pattern and for the highest arrest activity in the NCO Unit. The Detective Jonathan Diller Cop of the Year Award was presented to 100th Precinct Youth Coordination Officer Michelle Coa for facilitating youth programs, and her teamwork in leading to the successful closure of two grand larceny auto cases on the peninsula and apprehending a perpetrator wanted for a stabbing in Bronx Transit.
Several volunteers and community partners were also recognized. Ozzie Edwards, who recently retired from the Council board after many years of service, was given the Volunteer of the Year Award. Youth Volunteer of the Year was presented to Sergeant Jayden Roserio of the NYPD Explorers program. The 100th Precinct Law Enforcement Partner Award went to Sergeant Elizabeth Gallagher of NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol. In turn, Kathy Heavey was also presented with the 100th Precinct Community Council Executive Board Member of the Year Award for her 14 years of service and organization efforts for several local 100th Precinct events from NNO to holiday events, and monthly meetings.
After the event, Heavey announced that, “Due to the fact that some of our vendors had to cancel due to the severe weather, the 100th Precinct Community Council plan to sponsor rides at a future community event in Rockaway.”
