On May 20, Hostos’ Department of Public Safety recognized the contributions of officers across the nation, as well as those who patrol the campus, during its annual salute to National Peace Officer Memorial Day.
Hostos’ longtime Chief of Public Safety Arnaldo Bernabe said while he was proud of his team for its tireless efforts patrolling the campus, Hostos Public Safety Officers covered 1,000 events last year and responded to more than 1,300 calls for assistance. Bernabe added he was equally proud of his officer’s willingness to help both students and other guests to campus, as they are often the first people they see.
The event was highlighted by a video created by Hostos Public Safety Department Lt. Thomas Rodriguez, which provided a candid look inside the Department’s day-to-day duties.
Hostos President David Gómez also lauded the work of the department. “I can’t tell you how much comfort I take, knowing that each of you are here. You put yourselves at risk for our protection. You do your jobs with dignity, grace and class, and I can’t thank you enough.”
Celebrated annually throughout the nation on May 15, National Peace Officer Memorial Day honors federal, state and local officers who were killed or disabled in the line of duty. This holiday is observed in conjunction with Police Week.
Chief Bernabe also presented the following Hostos Officers and other Hostos staff with the following awards:
Officer of the Year – Peace Officer Curt Cesar
Rookie of the Year – Peace Officer Anthony Moreno
Sergeant of the Year – Sergeant Victor Guzman
Exceptional Service of the Year – Peace Officer Freddy Ortiz
Rescue Medal Award – Sergeant Carlos Gomez
Outstanding Attendance & Punctuality Award – Peace Officer Abdul Mazumder
Commendable Service Award – Sachin Fortes-Mannan
Commendable Service Award – Wilfred Perez
The Department of Public Safety Department also issued Campus Public Safety Team Service Awards to the following college staff members for their support of the public safety service on campus: College Nurse, Alejandrina Pena; IT Assistants, Jaime Murillo and Francisco Quiroz; Purchasing Agent, Iddy Rosario; and Human Resources Administrative Assistant, Joseph Collette.
About Hostos Community College
Eugenio María de Hostos Community College is an educational agent for change that has been transforming and improving the quality of life in the South Bronx and neighboring communities since 1968. It serves as a gateway to intellectual growth and socioeconomic mobility, as well as a point of departure for lifelong learning, success in professional careers, and transfer to advanced higher education programs. The College’s unique Student Success Coaching Unit provides students with individualized guidance and exemplifies its emphasis on student support services.
Named one of the top 10 finalists for the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, Hostos offers 27 associate degree programs and two certificate programs that facilitate easy transfer to The City University of New York’s (CUNY) four-year colleges or baccalaureate studies at other institutions. The College has an award-winning Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development that offers professional development courses and certificate-bearing workforce training programs. Hostos is part of CUNY, the nation’s leading urban public university, which serves more than 500,000 students at 24 colleges.