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Neighborhood 'Super Cops' Honored at Awards

By DNAinfo Staff on December 8, 2010 6:16pm  | Updated on December 9, 2010 6:26am

By Tara Kyle

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

UNION SQUARE — NYPD Sergeant Robert Delaney's four-man "Conditions Unit," which is charged with curtailing small, easy-to-miss quality of life nuisances that can collectively drag down a neighborhood, isn't used to praise.

But Wednesday, that team stood in the limelight at Greenwich Village-Chelsea Chamber of Commerce's annual "Safe Cities, Safe Streets" cop-of-the-year awards ceremony, held at 80 Fifth Avenue.

"Most of the time when we interact with someone on the street it's, 'My cuffs are too tight,' or 'I didn't do it," said Delaney at the ceremony. "To have our hard work rewarded really feels great."

Leonardo Nimo, who works the 13th precinct spanning Gramercy, Stuy Town and part of Chelsea, was also hailed at the ceremony for his contributions to the neighborhoods. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. called Nimo a "super-cop" for his observation and facial recognition skills. In one recent incident, the officer raced across the subway tracks to capture a robbery suspect.

After the ceremony, Nimo's 12-year-old daughter, Michaela, said she felt happy to see her dad, who is so dedicated he worked on his birthday Saturday, honored.

"I'm proud — I like having a dad who is really good at what he does," Michaela Nimo said. "He's a super cop and a super dad."

For Greenwich Village's Sixth Precinct, 17-year veteran officer Robert Jackson received recognition for capturing a man suspected of a string of 26 burglaries, including one at a Crumbs cupcake shop.

"When you do a burglary or robbery, you have to be very patient, and you have to follow people for a long time," Jackson told DNAinfo. "You also have to be lucky."

Finally, in the Ninth Precinct, which is charged with safeguarding the East Village, Iraq veterans Edward Thompson and John Sivori were honored for arresting a burglary suspect who turned out to be carrying a .22 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic, a silencer — and eight daggers. The NYPD later found a Taser, second gun and additional ammunition at the suspect's storage facility.

In addition to Vance, State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick and dozens of local businesses leaders were on hand to recognize area cops. Capital One Bank, Barracuda Lounge, Google, and Down the Hatch bar sponsored the precinct award winners, with Con Edison, Abe & Arthur's and the Manhattan Penthouse also offering substantial contributions to the ceremony.

One attendee, Hudson Guild executive director Ken Jockers, said the senior citizens his organization serves appreciate the way 10th precinct officers stop by to check in as part of their regular patrols.

Chamber of Commerce chairman Tony Juliano described "Safe Cities, Safe Streets" as an opportunity to pause and express gratitude to NYPD officers who are "never really off the clock."

"Thank you for protecting our stores, our businesses, our bars and our homes," he said.