Two patrol officers nabbed a couple of thugs in the course of a day’s work and wound up receiving the 78th Police Precinct’s “Cop of the Month” award for their quick action.
The incident unfolded at around 7:30 p.m. April 29, when Officers James Dawes and Willie Briggs responded to a robbery call near the intersection of 6th Avenue and 7th Street in Park Slope.
Upon arrival on the scene, the cops interviewed the 13−year−old victim, who told them four older kids dressed in a Gothic style took his iPod after one of the perpetrators threatened him with a metal pipe.
Armed with the descriptions of the suspects, Dawes and Briggs canvassed the area and were able to apprehend two of the perpetrators and recover the stolen goods.
Briggs is a five−year NYPD veteran with the last four spent at the 78th Precinct.
A former school safety officer, Briggs said he joined the NYPD because he enjoys helping people.
Dawes is from Prospect Heights and said he always liked cops as a little kid, and began to seriously consider joining the police force following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
Now a five−year veteran, Dawes said his favorite thing about being a police officer is “you get a front row seat to everything.”
Dawes said, for example, he got very close to the Pope when he came to the city.
Being a cop is also the right thing to do, he said.
