49th Precinct Clergy Council 3rd Annual Fellowship Dinner

By Robert Press

NYPD Commissioner James P. O'neill was the Keynote speaker, and along with Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark and Councilwoman Vanessa Gibson received the Clergy Council Public Servant Awards.

Commissioner O'Neill spoke about joining the Transit Police force in 1983. In 1995 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, and the Transit Police merged with the NYPD. Captain O'Neill then became the Executive Officer of the 52nd Precinct in the Bronx. His first command was the Central Park Precinct, then he given the 25th Precinct, and wound up in the Bronx again as the commanding officer of the 44th Precinct. After being promoted to Deputy Inspector, and then full Inspector he moved into other areas of police work, such as Vice, Narcotics, and Fugitive enforcement. He was appointed Chief of Detectives in 2014 by the Commissioner Bratton, and wound up taking over the position of Commissioner when Bratton retired in 2016.

49th Precinct awards were given to former 49th Precinct Commanding Officer Deputy Inspector Thomas Alps who now heads the 52nd Precinct, and Community Affairs Officer Dave Lepore of the 49th Precinct.

Community Service awards were given to Sister Jeanne Hanley of the Miracle Revival Temple Church, and Mohammad Ahmad Jan a local businessman, and an organizer of the Pakistan Independence Day Parade.

A surprise guest to the 49th Precinct Clergy Council Dinner was New York State Attorney General Letitia James. Also on hand were Councilman Mark Gjonaj and Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez. Over two-hundred people were in attendance for this event at Maestros Caterers.