Even when they’re on loan, the cops from the 63rd Precinct go above and beyond the call of duty.
Just ask Police Officer Thomas Podd, who was credited last week for apprehending an alleged groper while he was farmed out to Flatbush and Crown Heights, 13 thirteen women had been victimized.
Podd was one of nearly a dozen officers who were honored at the first 63rd Precinct Community Council meeting of the season for both heroism as well as outstanding police work.
Addressing 63rd Precinct Community Council members, Captain Patricia McDonald, the precinct’s executive officer explained that Officer Podd was one of a handful of cops sent over to the 71st Precinct. Cops there needed extra manpower looking for a serial groper wanted for accosting thirteen women over the course of the summer.
McDonald said that Podd was on patrol in the 71st Precinct when the groper’s latest victim approached, claiming that the suspect had touched her inappropriately.
Podd got a description of the suspect as he brought the woman to the station house so she could give her statement to detectives.
He then went back on patrol, where he spotted a man fitting the woman’s description, McDonald said.
Podd took the man into custody without incident. The man was later connected to the pattern and is now facing multiple counts of forcible touching, the captain said.
For his quick action, Podd was honored with a “Cop of the Month” certificate for July. Also honored were Police Officers Diana Rivera and Wayne Ngor, who were responsible for closing out a burglary pattern in Flatlands this past August.
McDonald said that the two officers were paying special attention to the area when they received a radio run about a burglary in the East 50s between Avenues N and K.
As they responded, the two cops apprehended a suspicious looking character — who ended up having some of the stolen loot on him.
“Cop of the Month” awards were also given out to Sergeants Joseph Profeta and Jim Derkasch and Police Officers Pat Terlonge, Patrick Dooley, Sebastian Danese and Robert McGinn for arrests they made in April, May and June.
McDonald said that the awardees, as well as the entire 63rd Precinct team, has helped bring down crime by 12.7 percent this year. According to recent NYPD CompStat reports dated September 27, the precinct was celebrating a 3.8 percent drop in robberies (185 in 2008 to 178 this year), a 27 percent fall in burglaries (201 to 146) and a 8.4 percent fall in car thefts (131 to 120).
The 63rd Precinct protects residents in Marine Park, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Flatlands, Georgetowne and Bergen Beach.
