Full Time 114 Precinct NYPD Officer Assigned To Roosevelt Island - Welcome Officer Sitaras

NYPD Inspector Cirabisi and Colleague Speaking With RIRA's President and Public Safety Chair at April RIRA Meeting

Received the following report on September 28 from Roosevelt Island Residents Association President (RIRA) Matt Katz:

Dino Sitaras, an NYPD officer from the 114th Pct. met with the RIRA Public Safety Committee last night to introduce himself. A native of western Queens, he is very familiar with Roosevelt Island and is looking forward to his shift here, and especially to working with Island kids. This fulfills the promise of commanding officer, Deputy Inspector, Stephen Cirabisi, to assign a full-time officer here. RIRA has extended an invitation to Officer Dino to meet the Common Council at one of our monthly meetings.

RIRA Public Safety Committee Chair Erin Feely-Nahem adds:

The RIRA Public Safety Committee had the pleasure of spending several hours with Community Officer Sitaras during our last Committee meeting. Officer Sitaras was open and interested in learning about the Roosevelt Island community. Through reflection of his 17 years of experience on the force, and because of his desire to work as the Roosevelt Island Community Officer, together we were able to discuss the needs and desires of our community. The RIRA Public Safety Committee welcomes Officer Sitaras and looks forward to working with him.

On Way To Work At Roosevelt Island, RIOC Employee Sees Something, Says Something and Arrests Are Made

Image From cribfashion

Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Community Relations Specialist Erica Spencer-El reports today on the good deed accomplished by one of her RIOC colleagues. From Ms. Spencer-El:

I wanted to share a recent incident that occurred on the island and the remarkable action taken by one of my fellow co-workers in response to witnessing the event:

 

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation would like to praise a member of its staff, Rudy Rajaballey, whose quick actions in notifying the Public Safety Department upon observing that something did not quite look right, led to the arrest of two off-islanders.

 

While coming to work this morning, Rudy noticed two men loading scrap metal into a Burgundy work-van from beneath the Motorgate Garage. He had seen this same van parked in the entranceway of the bottom level just the day before. His knowledge that the materials being loaded into the van belonged to the Corporation was vital in recognizing that a crime was being committed. Rudy immediately called PSD and the two men were apprehended and placed under arrest. They are being charged with Burglary, Grand Larceny and Criminal Trespass.

 

The men under arrest indicated that the 5 metal doors and pipes (valued at over $1,000) were going to be sold at a scrap yard. Our thanks go out to Rudy for his keen observation and speedy response in notifying PSD.  He definitely followed the saying, "If you see something, say something."

Small Recreational Boat Has Engine Problem Yesterday On East River Next To Roosevelt Island - Boat Drifting Towards Rocks Until Rescued By NYPD

I received a report late yesterday afternoon of a person floating in the East River. While walking south just past the Queensboro Bridge to investigate, I saw FDNY and NYPD Harbor Patrol Boats arriving on the scene along with a hovering helicopter.

What happened? It turns out that this small boat experienced engine trouble and was drifting towards the rocks on the east side of Roosevelt Island.

 Boat Experiencing Engine Trouble at Roosevelt Island East Channel

Soon after the arrival of the rescue boats, the engine started, the boat went on it's way and all was well again.

Image of Rescued Boat Approaching Queensboro Bridge

Here's how the incident was reported by the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department.

Possible Floater/Drowning - FDNY and NYPD responded. Condition was unfounded.

Vessel In Distress - FDNY and NYPD responded. NYPD towed vessel.

A previous post from 2009 reported on the water rescue by Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department and NYPD Harbor Patrol of a man who jumped into the East River and got sucked underneath the Subway Pier.

2009 Roosevelt Island Public Safety Incident Statistics - Not Much Crime But Alot Of Parking Violations

Roosevelt Island Public Safety Stats 2009

How did the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department spend their time in 2009? Listed above are the 1524 Calls For Sevices/Responses Statistics for the Public Safety Department during 2009. The top five Service/Response categories were:

• Aided (EMS/Transport Cases - 603
• Investigations (Non - Crim) - 194
• Found Property - 104
• Unsecured Premises - 89 and
• Lost/Missing Property 80

There were 14 incidents of Assault, 10 Grand Larcenies, 9 Burglaries, 5 Robberies, 2 Grand Larceny Autos and no Roosevelt Island murders or rapes in 2009.

In addition, 9 incidents of Aggravated Assault, 32 Petit Larceny, 123 Criminal Mischief and 56 other Misdemeanors. Also, the following Violations Non - Crimes

• Noise - 31
• Graffiti - 54
• Trespass - 72
• Harassment -74
• Disorderly Conduct - 46
• Domestic Dispute - 73
• Other 116
• "A" Parking Violations - 3262 and
• "B" Traffic Violations - 659

Earlier this week, there was a robbery in the Motorgate Garage and an assault as described by the daily Roosevelt Island Public Safety Reports below.

0700hrs 01/15/10 - 0700hrs 01/16/10Robbery- Three male subjects robbed victim in the motorgate, motorgate attendee reported robbery to PSD and NYPD. PSD apprehended subjects, subjects were transported to PSD then 114th precinct.

1/16/10-7:00 AM to 1/17/10/-7:00 AM
Assault- 2 subjects punched an adult male while he was talking on a cell phone. They fled. PSD, NYPD responded and conducted a search with negative results. EMS transported the male to the hospital.

Click here for the archived 2009 Roosevelt Island Daily Public Safety Reports.