Cop Who Nabbed Bensonhurst’s “Biggest Burglars” Honored At 62nd Precinct

By Kimberly Conner

A smiling woman holding a spool of blue ribbon greeted community members as they arrived at the 62nd Precinct (1925 Bath Avenue) on Tuesday for the monthly Community Council meeting.

Sonia Valentin, a longtime Bensonhurst resident and community activist, says she has been handing out blue ribbons to residents as a show of support for local police officers. Her efforts are part of a larger blue ribbon campaign that has swept the nation in the wake of the deaths of several police officers, including Officer Wenjian Liu and Officer Rafael Ramos who were killed while guarding a Bedford-Stuyvesant housing project in December.

Community Council President Louis Tromboli echoed the need for community support for law enforcement. “Support for the police needs to come from the neighborhood level,” said Tromboli. “Public safety is the foremost issue of any civilized society. As a city, we have too much on the line.”

The New York State Senate will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, January 28 at 10am concerning “police safety and public protection in New York City,” according to a representative for Senator Golden. The hearing will be held at 250 Broadway in the Senate Hearing Room. The event will also be live-streamed on Senator Golden’s website.

Officer Honored for Nabbing Burglars

Officer Ralph Postiglione, a 10-year veteran of the NYPD, was honored at the Community Council meeting as the 62nd Precinct’s Cop of the Month for his exemplary service. Numerous community leaders and elected officials praised the officer’s hard work and presented him with commendations.

“Officer Postiglione was chosen for this honor because of his relentless pursuit of known felons in the neighborhood,” said Captain Nelson Chen.

In November, we reported on the arrests of four men described as Bensonhurst’s “biggest burglars” – Louis Desalvatore, 36, John Catullo, 46, Paul Debenedetto, 37, and Joseph DeBenedetto, 30 – in connection with a string of break-ins plaguing the community. Officer Postiglione played a crucial role in those arrests, initiating the pursuit that eventually led to the men being charged with burglary, larceny, trespassing, and criminal possession of stolen property, among other charges.

“He spotted John Catullo and was able to recognize him as a burglary recidivist. It was proactive police work,” said Captain Chen.

Traffic Safety Issues

Community members expressed discontent concerning some unresolved traffic safety issues. Namely, a faulty traffic light on Cropsey Avenue and an “ill-conceived” speed bump across Bay 8th Street near the Belt Parkway.

As residents vented about the speed bump, even Captain Chen quipped, “The very first time I went over it I was going 50 mph and I broke something, but it wasn’t my car.”

Eileen LaRuffa, a member of Community Board 11, encouraged people to contact the board with these concerns.

Upcoming Community Events

• Also on January 28, Councilman Vincent Gentile will hold a free seminar and training on Narcan, a drug that can potentially save lives by reversing an opiate overdose. The event will be held at McKinley Junior High School (7301 Fort Hamilton Parkway) beginning at 7pm.

• The United Chinese Association of Brooklyn will offer free flu shots to the public on Wednesday, January 28 between 11:30am and 3pm. For more info call 718-232-0055.

• The Junior League of Brooklyn in collaboration with Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams will hold a “Stop the Trafficking” discussion in order to address how human trafficking affects our communities and how people can combat the global crisis. The event will take place at the Brooklyn Borough Hall Courtroom (209 Joralemon Street) on Tuesday, February 10 from 6 to 8pm. RSVP at 718-802-4875 or provisionals@brooklynjuniorleague.org.

• Borough President Eric L. Adams will host a special champagne reception on Friday, February 13 from 11am to 2pm for “Golden Couples” who have been together more than 50 years. The event will be held at Brooklyn Borough Hall (209 Joralemon Street). RSVP at 718-802-3717 or sevents@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.