LONG ISLAND CITY — The 108th Precinct in Queens is getting a new commanding officer, as Deputy Inspector Donald Powers moves on from the post he's held for the last three years.
Powers is transferring to the Manhattan North borough office, where he will have a command, and will be replaced by Capt. Brian Hennessy, currently an executive officer at the 115th Precinct in Jackson Heights.
"He knows Queens very well, he knows Queens North very well, so it’s a good fit for him," Powers said of his successor.
The move is part of a "normal career progression,” Powers said, adding that he's enjoyed his time overseeing the 108 — which encompasses Long Island City, Sunnyside and Woodside. He took command of the post in 2010.
"It’s almost like a small town feel here," he said. "You really get a chance to really get to know people. It’s not just names and pieces of paper."
Hennessy, 36, said he's worked in Queens for the entirety of his career, having served in precincts in Bayside, the Rockaways and Astoria before his most recent post in Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst.
"Queens has been home to my career for the last 15 years," said Hennessy, who said he also grew up in the 104th Precinct in northwestern Queens and still lives there with his wife and children.
"A lot of your concerns are a lot of my concerns," he told those gathered at the 108th Precinct community council meeting on Tuesday. "I understand your complaints, and I look forward to addressing any complaints you might have."
The 108th Precinct has seen crime down slightly this year, with a 5 percent decrease in 2013 compared to this time last year, according to the NYPD.
