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Commendations July 17, 2003 - Personnel Order #2003-031 PATROL OFFICER DAVID WAGNER On January 11, 2003, while on patrol in the 541 unit, Officers Wagner and King observed a subject at the front door of the Tweeter on Commonwealth Avenue. The store was closed at the time. They watched the subject attempt to force open the door and then leave when he was unsuccessful. When the subject saw the police cruiser, he turned into an alleyway. Officers Wagner and King, while monitoring the subject, observed a parked motor vehicle fitting the description of a recent armed robbery at Starbuck's. The subject then exited the alley and Officers Wagner and King approached him. After conducting a field interview and determining that the subject, Junior Jocelyn Auguste, had no warrants, they sent him on his way. Continuing surveillance on Auguste and the vehicle, they determined through a registry check that the vehicle is registered to Auguste, who had just told them he was on foot. They approached Auguste again and asked him about the vehicle, which he denied knowing anything about it. During a pat frisk of the subject, they found keys to the vehicle and a Nextel phone with two-way radio. During a consent search of the vehicle, the officers discovered a knapsack containing a black and silver BB gun, similar in description to the one used in the recent robbery, a black scarf, black gloves and four Starbuck's drink coupons. Officers Wagner and King arrested Auguste for attempted B & E of the Tweeter. He was subsequently charged with armed robberies at Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks in Washington Square. For their keen observation skills and exemplary work in this case, Officer David Wagner and Officer Joseph King are to be commended. Their diligent efforts led to the removal of a dangerous criminal from our streets. DETECTIVE PAUL KELLIHER On February 2, 2003, Detective Kelliher was on patrol in an unmarked cruiser in the South Brookline area. There had been two recent housebreaks in the area and the suspect was a Hispanic male driving an off-white vehicle. While on patrol, Detective Kelliher observed a Hispanic male, operating a beige Honda, driving slowly on Allendale Road and then parking in front of a house on Risley Road. The subject, later identified as Nelson Quinonez, approached the house, opened the storm door, knelt down and peered into the mail slot. He then walked around the back of the house and returned to the front door. He continued to ring the doorbell and open the storm door. Detective Kelliher, knowing through his training and experience that this behavior is consistent with a house break, requested additional units to respond. The suspect then approached the garage and tried the locks on the door. At this point, he appeared to take notice of the unmarked unit and Detective Kelliher approached him. Joined by additional units, Detective Kelliher conducted a field interview of Quinonez, who stated he was at the house looking for a room to rent. A check of Quinonez's criminal history revealed 97 entries, including armed robbery and B & Es. On the floor of his vehicle, officers discovered a damaged screwdriver, consistent with having been used as a burglarious tool. At this time, Quinonez is placed under arrest for attempted B & E and possession of burglarious tools. He was later charged with two housebreaks on Risley Road and one on Goddard Circle. Detective Kelliher is to be commended for his keen observation skills, diligent investigative efforts and for utilizing his training and experience to catch this criminal in the act. DISPATCHER JENNIFER CUNNINGHAM On March 27th at 0718 hrs, Dispatcher Jennifer Cunningham received a 911 call from an excited parent whose 16-month-old child was having a seizure. Dispatcher Cunningham took control of the call in a courteous and firm manner and using the Emergency Medical Dispatch cards, she was able to get necessary information from the parent. She remained calm and professional while working with a traumatized parent to ensure a proper medical response for the infant. Dispatcher Cunningham is to be commended for the professional and composed manner in which she helped this family. PATROL OFFICER JEFFREY EMMERSO On March 29, 2003 at 0127 hrs, Officer Emmerso was on patrol in the Brookline Village area when he observed a motor vehicle with a defective taillight traveling west on Washington Street. Officer Emmerso stopped the vehicle and approached it. He asked the operator for his license and registration and explained the reason for the stop. The operator stated that he did not have his license with him, but that the passenger was the registered owner of the car. During this exchange, Officer Emmerso recognized that the operator, Craig Dickerson, is the man featured on a Detective Bureau bulletin warning caution because of a recent firearm violation. Officer Emmerso returned to his cruiser and checked the criminal histories of the operator and passenger. Dispatch informed him that both subjects have a long criminal history, including multiple firearms charges. With the assistance of backup officers, Officer Emmerso returned to the vehicle and conducted a pat frisk of the subjects and a protective sweep of the vehicle. Inside the vehicle, officers found crack cocaine and marijuana. The owner of the vehicle was arrested and during booking, additional drugs were found. Due to the volume of drugs and proximity to a local school, the subject was charged with possession of class B with intent to distribute, possession of class D and school zone/park violation. Additionally, Officer Emmerso seized $384 in cash found on the subject, as well as his 2000 Dodge Dakota. Due to Officer Emmerso's keen observation skills and diligence, he was successful at maintaining officer safety while removing a drug dealer from the street. He is to be commended for his actions during this high-risk traffic stop. PATROL OFFICER JEFFREY EMMERSO On April 4, 2003, Officer Emmerso was assigned to an unmarked unit for the last half shift. While on patrol, he observed a suspicious subject in the area of Brookline Avenue and Washington Street. When he attempted to conduct a field interview of the subject, the subject fled on foot, discarding some items on the way. Officer Emmerso caught up with the subject and detained him. With the assistance of backup officers, a search of the area was conducted and a glassine baggie containing crack cocaine was recovered. The subject was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute a class B substance in a school zone/park and being disorderly person. During booking, the suspect's pager went off and Officer Crespo answered the page. The caller was looking to buy crack cocaine and Officer Crespo set up a controlled sale. With backup units, Officer Crespo conducted the transaction and the second subject was arrested. This case is a clear example of the teamwork and initiative consistently displayed by officers in the Third Platoon. Officer's Crespo and Emmerso are to be commended for their excellent police work and initiative. SERGEANT MYLES MURPHY In late March and early May, there was a rash of commercial establishments broken into at night along Harvard Street and in Brookline Village. On May 5th, last half Officers Crespo and Emmerso got a break in these cases. Responding to a commercial burglar alarm on Boylston Street, Officer Emmerso observed an Asian male with his hand wrapped in white gauze walking about one block away from the alarm location. Earlier in the evening, there had been an alarm at another Boylston Street location and this subject was seen in the area of that alarm. When questioned, he told officers he was lost and trying to get to Davis Street. Officer Emmerso also observed that this subject matched a description given to him by Officer Crespo regarding a person who had been seen in the vicinity of several prior breaks. At this time, Officer Emmerso stopped his vehicle and approached the subject. While speaking with the subject, Officer Emmerso and backup Officer Crespo observed that the subject's hands were dirty. When questioned, the subject's answers were vague and inconsistent. The officers also discovered that the subject had given them a false name and didn't have any identification on him. Officers Crespo and Emmerso escorted the subject to his home to get an I.D. and, while there, they spoke with the subject and his mother. Sergeant Myles Murphy supervised the interview and read the subject his Miranda warnings. During the interview with Sgt. Murphy, Officers Crespo and Officer Emmerso, the subject admitted to opening the window at the scene of the alarm. They took the subject to the commercial establishment and the subject even pointed out which window he opened. When asked about other places he broke into, the subject confessed to several burglaries within the last few days. The officers drove the subject around town and he pointed out places he had tried to burglarize or was successful at getting into, what he took and what actions he made. The subject was arrested and subsequently charged with more than 20 burglaries and attempts over the last year. Officer Emmerso and Officer Crespo are to be commended for their teamwork and persistence in this case. Sergeant Murphy is also to be commended for his interview techniques and supervision of this investigation. The fine investigative and interview skills exhibited by these three officers not only brought in a serious burglar, but also led to his confession for numerous unresolved cases. DISPATCHER VERONICA ROA On May 26th at 1022 hrs, Dispatcher Roa received an emergency call regarding an unresponsive man. Dispatcher Roa remained calm and, using the emergency medical dispatch cards, ascertained that the man needed immediate CPR. Through her instructions over the phone, the persons administering CPR were able to establish an airway and get the patient to breath on his own. Dispatcher Roa stayed on the phone, continuing to assist and support the callers, until emergency responders arrived on the scene. Her demeanor and professionalism kept this situation calm and controlled. She is to be commended for her exemplary work on this call. The above are examples of the excellent police work that has been done over the past several months by the men and women of the Brookline Police Department. These officers are to be commended for their efforts in keeping Brookline a safe place to live, work and visit. Daniel C. O'Leary
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