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Crime & Safety

Cops 'Make Their Own Luck,' Nail Suspects

Cops of the Month Patrick Hughes and Evan Ostrovsky got the January award for making an arrest in Bayside – before they even got to talk to the complainant.

For catching two burglars their colleagues in a nearby precinct had been chasing—and catching them without the help of their radio—two officers of the 111th Precinct were honored last night.

“We create our own luck. It’s called good police work,” said 111th Precinct Commander Capt. Ronald Leyson. With that, he presented “Cop of the Month” awards to Police Officers Evan Ostrovsky and Patrick Hughes at the precinct Community Council meeting on Tuesday Night.

“They actually affected an arrest before they even saw the complainant,” Leyson said as he and council President Jack Fried presented the plaques, given in recognition of “dedication to duty and the well-being of the community.”

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The two were on patrol duty near Bayside High School one night in January. During their tour, a robbery in the 109th Precinct that led to a car and foot pursuit also tied up radio communications.

Leyson explained both the 109th and 111th use the same radio frequency. During such dire situations as that night, a frequency is “assigned,” meaning only cops involved in the situation can use it.

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“Unable to use their radio, these officers checked the computer terminal in their car and saw a report of a larceny in progress nearby that hadn’t been called out on the radio. It contained the descriptions of two perpetrators,” Leyson said.

Ostrovsky and Hughes observed someone fitting one description and detained him. “They got the Sergeant on his cell phone and sent him to meet the complainant,” Leyson continued, who was in the vicinity of 211th St. and 32nd Ave.

The complainant identified the man in custody and, “From information generated, they arrested a second person entering a group home nearby,” Leyson said, noting that the second man was also identified.

The awards were for January – because the weather curtailed last month’s council meeting. “We’ve been kind of busy, but it looks like these guys might get the Award for February, too,” Leyson said.

He also revealed that Ostrovsky, who was dressed in a tee shirt and jeans, has just been assigned to Anti-Crime duty.

The young officer is just settling into his new role. Before the meeting, he asked his C.O. if “I should change into my uniform to get the award.”

“You’re in anti-crime now; that is your uniform of the day,” the Capt. Replied.

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