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Kudos to Cops of the Month

A pair of 70th Precinct police officers were honored as “Cops of the Month” for their efforts to preserve the life of an injured child at the most recent gathering of the 70th Precinct Community Council.

In addition, seven other officers were honored as “Cops of the Month” for having taken a loaded gun off the street.

During the group’s September meeting, which was held at Belsky House, 140 Lawrence Avenue, tribute was paid to P.O. Matthew Collyer and P.O. Christopher Niemeyer for trying to save a two-year-old child who had fallen from a third-story window on August 11.

“When the officers arrived at the scene, they observed the child on the ground, unconscious with blood coming from his face and mouth,” explained Deputy Inspector Ralph Monteforte, the precinct’s commanding officer. “They immediately requested EMS and, with total disregard concerning the blood, they started performing CPR on the child and chest compressions until the arrival of EMS.”

While their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful, Monteforte told the two, “You did the best you could to try to make the baby live.” And, he noted, the two officers spent the following day with the grieving family, in an effort to provide support.

“You are heroes, guys,” Monteforte told the duo.

The loaded gun was retrieved by the precinct’s anticrime team during Jouvert. Lieutenant Dennis Ferber, Sergeant John Kocher, P.O. Gerald Cucchiara, P.O. Joshua Baez, P.O Chris Madison, P.O. Valery Paul-Blanc and P.O. Nicholas Ligouri were “on routine patrol,” said Monteforte, when they “observed a large party being held.

“While attempting to peacefully break up the party,” he went on, “the crime team arrested two suspects for possession of a loaded .380 firearm.”

The firearms collar was one aspect of a particularly peaceful Jouvert, Monteforte said.

During the three-day weekend, despite the influx of crowds into the neighborhood from across the country and beyond, there were no shootings and only six crimes. “That’s unbelievable,” Monteforte added.

“That’s because of the response of the men and women of our precinct and all the surrounding precincts,” he concluded. “I think we had a real safe Jouvert.”