May 5, 2014 2 min read 70th precinct community council meeting

Notes From April’s 70th Precinct Community Council Meeting

70th precinct meeting deputy inspector richard diblasio and sergeant brian lane

Wednesday, April 30 was the monthly 70th Precinct Community Council meeting, held the last Wednesday of each month at the UCP building (175 Lawrence Avenue between Ocean Pkwy and E 2nd Street).

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28. Until then, here’s what you should know:

Spirits were high even in the pouring rain as elected officials, community members, clergy liaisons, and members of the NYPD gathered to welcome Deputy Inspector Richard DiBlasio, who recently transferred in from the 68th Precinct to take over for Inspector Eric Rodriguez. Deputy Inspector DiBlasio said he feels blessed to be at the 70th, between the loyalty and dedication of the full time officers serving under him, that of our local auxiliary officers, and that of area residents. “I’ve a very happy camper to be a part of the 70th,” he said.

For all the excitement over Deputy Inspector DiBlasio’s arrival at the precinct, the night was a bittersweet one. After 28 years at the 70th Precinct, Sergeant Brian Lane of the Community Affairs unit will be joining Inspector Rodriguez at the NYPD’s Applicant Processing Division. “It’s my loss only getting to work with him for a few weeks,” said Deputy Inspector DiBlasio, “but he’s a longtime friend to me and everyone else in this room… You’re an icon in the 70th Precinct,” DiBlasio told Sergeant Lane. For his part, Lane said, “It’s been a pleasure, an honor, and a lot of fun working here. Everyone has my number if they need it.” (“I do have it!” chimed in an audience member.)

Deputy Inspector DiBlasio has reinstated the Police Officer of the Month program. This month’s recipients were Impact Zone Officers James Grant and Brian Jarrett, plus Sergeant Tom Kennedy and Officers Steve Richards, James Gale, and Tom Gugliucci–who, in two separate and very dangerous incidents, removed guns as well as suspects wanted for violent offenses involving guns off local streets.

Councilmember Jumaane Williams said with a proposed $74 billion budget to (hopefully!) be passed by the City Council in late June, he and Councilmember David Greenfield of the 44th District are hoping to bring resources back to the area covered by the 70th Precinct.

Councilmember Williams also spoke about his constituent Gama Droiville, who was shot during April 14’s shooting on Flatbush Avenue. He thanked the NYPD for the swift arrest of suspected gunman Kareem Potomont, and thanked the 70th Precinct community for their support.

Deputy Inspector DiBlasio added about Gama, “We tried to make a positive out of a negative… We all pitched in together.” He praised the FDNY and EMS for responding quickly and administering medical help at the scene of the shooting, and those who handed over video footage that helped detective make an arrest as soon as possible. “Thank you, everybody, for helping out that family,” he said.

Councilmember Greenfield said that the City Council’s Transportation Committee had looked earlier in the day at a package of 22 laws to keep bikers and pedestrians safe on New York roads. He thanked the 70th Precinct “for being at the forefront” of developing Vision Zero tactics–and seems pretty positive about the precinct’s future. “Deputy Inspector DiBlasio’s leadership is legendary,” he said, “Hopefully he’ll remember us one day when he becomes chief.”