Congrats to PSD on Subway Pier Rescue

Base Picture Courtesy Roosevelt Islander

This weekend Public Safety Director Keith Guerra sent the below message out to all of the Roosevelt Island media outlets, including both blogs and the Main Street WIRE among others regarding the rescue effort of a Goldwater patient who decided to take a dip in the East River and found himself sucked under and trapped by the Subway Pier.

Fellow blogger Roosevelt Islander had a great post on the rescue and included pictures taken at the scene that afternoon. Subsequent to the Roosevelt Islander posting on Twitter I "retweeted" his notice on Twitter.

PSD Director Keith Guerra:

Today was a good day. In addition to watching a couple of well played baseball games by our local Little Leaguers, there was also a well attended Roosevelt Island Reunion at South Point Park.

The excitement didn't end there as we also had a Goldwater Hospital Patient jump off the dock into the East River. Sgt. Raul Hernandez led the rescue effort by the Public Safety Department. Det. John Malone lowered him onto the rocks because they couldn't see the jumper. Apparently, he was trapped under the dock. The officers were able to throw a Life Ring to him and attempted to pull him to safety. He was a bit incapacitated and could not be pulled out, so Officer David Vernet maintained control of the line while Sgt. Ramon Azular held onto Sgt. Hernandez. They maintained control of him until members from the NYPD and FDNY could respond to complete the save. All in all, it was a great job by the Public Safety Officers, who aided the other agencies in the rescue. I had left the island, but received many calls complimenting the job the officers performed. I'm very proud of them for putting themselves in harm's way to rescue the hospital patient.

Our Street Fire Boxes: A Vanishing Necessity ?

For some reason since I moved to Roosevelt Island I have been fascinated with our street Fire Call Boxes. It probably has to do with the fact that years ago I survived a fire in the brownstone I lived within while living in Brooklyn. That's another story. Anyway yesterday I noticed that Box 1915 which sits almost behind 465 Main Street, facing Manhattan and the East River, has been tagged as "temporarily out of service".

Last year when I traded emails with Public Safety Director Keith Guerra about the three stumps of former fire boxes, that sit in front of 415 - 475 Main Street, Southtown, he confirmed that usually when boxes go out of order tat they are removed. Per e-mail discussion threads on NYCFire.net I learned that the "stumps" are kept as the circuits run through them on their way to working boxes so the stumps remain.

It would appear then that 1915, which in addition to being on of the few boxes on that side of Riverwalk, may be headed for partial removal. I always iked this box as it was the classic design as opposed to the ugly grey boxes we have further up Main Street. Putting the aesthetics aside I do believe these boxes still serve a purpose. Even though cell phones are virtually everywhere there are still instances where individuals don't have one and these individuals may find themselves needing to report an incident, fire or otherwise, and these boxes are a link to our emergency services on and off the island.

PSD Youth Summit - Wed. Eve at 6:30pm

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department is sponsoring a Youth Summit tomorrow night, Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 6:30 pm at PS / IS 217. The summit is a "forum for the youth in the community (and their parents) to hear important information about the law".

Topics of discussion will include:

· R.I. Public Safety Department
· How to deal with a Law Enforcement Officer
· How to act during a Car Stop
· Escalation of Force Continuum
· Violations / Misdemeanors / Felonies
· Juveniles -vs- Adults
· Escalation of Charges

According to the flyers posted refreshments will be served. The event is scheduled to take place in the school cafeteria.