Community Magazine October 2009

54 Community magazine W hen Police Officer Susan Porcello of Brooklyn’s 68 th Precinct responded to a 911 call at a Bay Ridge apartment last year in July, 2008, she not only saved the victim’s life – she saved his death, as well. Eighty-four-year-old Gaspar Musso, a retired insurance agent and World War II veteran, was an only child. He has no relatives and his only friend – a neighbor – had died a year earlier. Mr. Musso was seemingly destined to die alone and in abject anonymity, probably to be buried without a funeral in an unmarked grave in a potter’s field. Thankfully, however, his dignity and spirit were rescued by an accidental overdose – and the loving heart of Officer Porcello. In an interview with the New York Daily News published last December, Porcello recalled asking Mr. Musso if he had any family or friends. When the patient responded in the negative, the officer replied, “Well, I’m your friend.” Officially designating him as her “grandpa,” Porcello had Mr. Musso transferred to a nursing home after his release from the hospital, and visited him often. The two formed a bond and Mr. Musso’s once lonely life was transformed. On November 15 th of last year, she received a call during a vacation trip informing her that her “grandpa” had passed away, peacefully, while sleeping. She immediately cut short her vacation, flew back to New York, paid for a funeral service out of her own pocket, and brought along her fellow police officers from the 68 th Precinct to fill the room. And, she saw to it that Mr. Musso would be buried next to his mother in a Staten Island cemetery. Though she did not seek recognition, the following month, Officer Porcello was named Public Servant of the Year by the Little Italy Merchant Association, as well as the SHIELDS of Long Island Police Officer of the Year, among other awards. A Homeless Shelter Loses its Clientele Officer Porcello’s story is but one of many, largely unknown instances of NYPD officers selflessly extending themselves to not only protect people, but to help people, lift their spirits, alleviate their agony, and, perhaps most of all, warm their hearts. “I have such respect, admiration and affection for these people,” says community member Joe Dweck, who has enjoyed close ties with NYPD officers and staffers for the last 20 years. “These folks receive civil servant paychecks and have their own expenses and problems to deal with in their personal lives. Yet, so often they manage to show so much kindness and compassion to total strangers.” Exemplifying this kind of commitment is Fran Digregorio, Community Relations Officer of New York’s 108 th Precinct serving Long Island City in Queens. Fran had two small children at home and was eight months pregnant when she decided one day to enter a homeless shelter in her precinct to speak to its residents. She discovered that a number of people living in the shelter were military veterans, and unaware of their benefits. She promptly took it upon herself to personally drive each and every veteran to the Veterans Administration and ensure they receive the benefits they deserve. But that wasn’t all. Fran went around to a number of warehouses in the neighborhood to ask if they wanted to hire security guards. The response was enthusiastic, and just like that she found work for the jobless and penniless residents of the shelter. Fran even purchased security personnel uniforms for the new security officers, with her own money. A few months later, the shelter literally ran out of homeless people to serve! Instinctive Selflessness Many things go into making a great cop, but foremost among them are a sense of duty, selflessness, and a willingness to work under even the harshest conditions. For some of New York’s finest, these qualities have become instinctive and second nature. They respond almost by force of habit anytime they find themselves in a position to help a fellow New Yorker in need. “The desire to help people is in the very fiber of many cops,” says Dweck. “Many men and women join the NYPD specifically because they long for the opportunity to help.” A number of years ago, Captain William McClellan, who then served as Commanding Officer of the 71 st Precinct in Crown DAVID SILVERBERG They work hard to keep the city safe, patrolling streets, securing our institutions and public events, and investigating crimes. But that’s far from all the brave officers of the NYPS do. These inspiring stories of police heroism of another kind may surprise you. Kindest