Precinct 121 in Staten Island Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Precinct 121 in Staten Island Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Dozens of New York’s Finest were joined by a cast of community leaders to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the establishment of the establishment of the 121st Precinct in  Graniteville. The brief assembly was held in front of the precinct entrance, its unique design providing shelter from the strong summer afternoon sun. Many of the officers were outfitted in their class A attire for the occasion, mingling amongst peers and elected officials in attendance.

The presentation of colors and reciting of the National Anthem accompanied an invocation prior to speakers taking to the podium. Among those in attendance were an array of elected leaders and a collection of high-ranking law enforcement officials, including Chief Terence Hurson, currently the Executive Officer of Patrol Borough Staten Island, and the first commanding officer of Pct. 121. Mendy Mirocznik, president, Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island (COJO) and Ari Weiss, COJO, security chairman; and coordinator, Staten Island Shomrim represented COJO at the celebration.

When the 121st Precinct first opened for operations on July 1, 2013, Hurson served as its commanding officer. At the time, the precinct was the first new precinct to be established by the New York Police Department in decades. In recalling that day, Hurson noted the first morning roll call and the raising of the precinct’s first flag. A picture of that day and the original flag are both proudly displayed within the building.

The demand for a fourth precinct to serve the community of Staten Island had been around for decades, Hurson recalled. Although the establishment process took its time, the precinct finally saw the light of day in 2013. In hearkening back to that year’s ribbon cutting ceremony, Hurson said the following:

“One of the things we said on that day was that, “a police precinct is more than just a place where the cops come to turn out, and get their cars, and handle jobs. Police stations are a refuge for the public. Crime victims will come here seeking assistance, children from the neighborhood will decorate the insides of the building with their artwork…the public looks to this building as a place for safety.””

Reflecting on the history of the 121st Precinct was District Attorney Michael McMahon, who applauded the work of the community and local leaders, who tirelessly pushed for the creation of the precinct. McMahon himself once played a role in identifying the ideal location for precinct. “What we knew was that the Patrol Borough of Staten Island needed a new space; we knew that we had such large geographic swaths that we were covering out of these precincts, it was just impossible to do, and we knew that this community that is here, represented today by all of you, deserved and really should have this precinct,” McMahon said.

Following his remarks, the district attorney presented Commanding Officer, Eric Waldhelm with a certificate of recognition in celebration of the commemorative anniversary. Joining McMahon in speaking and congratulating the precinct were Assemblyman Charles Fall and New York City Council Member David Carr, the latter of whom also presented a certificate. Additionally, 121 Precinct Community Council President Robert Orlando presented a plaque on behalf of the council, rounding out the series of speakers.

“It (the precinct) really is a perfect slice of life of Staten Island; a microcosm of the borough,” Carr said. “It touches all three council districts. It touches all kinds of walks of life, people of different background and faiths, and it harmonizes them,’’ he said. “You see it represented in the Community Council. You see it as folks come to bring their concerns and their issues and how they’re handled with respect and diligence, and it’s been that way for the last 10 years.”

The event concluded with the unveiling of a wall of former commanding officers in the entrance of the precinct. Attendees huddled together for a first glimpse at the wall, which included blank slots visible for leaders to come.

“These commands were just way too big back then, to think that where we stand now was responsible for the area by the ferry still, and how it helped in response time, how it helped for accountability, for the Police Department to have the fourth precinct, it radically changed how we do police work here on Staten Island,” Hurson said.

Mendy Mirocznik, remarked, “we at COJO have been involved with Pct.121 since the day it opened its doors some ten years ago. We have experienced to good, the bad and the challenging and we were successful in overcoming all the obstacles we faced. We got through upheavals and covid together. That is in no small measure thanks to the strong leadership at the command of Pct. 121 since day one. Today we celebrate 10 years of service by Pct. 121 and we must never take for granted  how fortunate we are to have this Pct,. in our borough. We at COJO look forward to our continued partnership with Pct. 121 in helping to improve the quality of life for all the residents of Staten Island.”