Staten Island Council of Jewish Organizations Sounds Off the Year with A Feeling of Recharged Energy

On Thursday, December 30, 2021, the Staten Island Council of Jewish Organizations, (COJO-SI), held its final Security Meeting for 2021 at Pct. 123, located in the Tottenville section of Staten Island. At the meeting, Mendy Mirocznik, COJO President, congratulated the precinct’s Commanding Officer, Inspector Andrey Smirnov on his recent promotion to Inspector.

“Inspector Smirnov arrived at Pct. 123 as its commanding officer in September 2019. I can recall our first meeting with him and how civic minded, approachable, open and welcoming he was to working with COJO and wanting to become familiar with the various community groups, Synagogues and Houses of Worship in his command and he inquired how the NYPD can be of assistance in working with the community to bring about the best quality of life for all its residents. At that time, who ever heard of Covid and how familiar was the word Pandemic to the ordinary person’s daily lexicon. Sadly, today fast forward we all know too well what this silent killer has done to our existence and how much havoc, death and destruction it is responsible for. As much as we try to eradicate this plague the battle is still raging on. However, one thing is truly certain, thanks to Inspector Smirnov’s kind heart and creative mind the NYPD has forged a strong and growing stronger by the day relationship with COJO. We can’t even enumerate the amount of PPE, food and other resources that COJO was able to disseminate which only became a reality thanks to the NYPD and its great heroic officers such as Inspector Smirnov who truly dare to care. When I close my eyes, I see memories of Scott Maurer, COJO’s CEO and executive vice-president, Ari Weiss, COJO’s  security chairman, and coordinator, Staten Island Shomrim and Iva Reuven, COJO’s Service Committee Chairwoman coordinating events, working on traffic control and how the NYPD, Shomrim and the volunteers teamed together united as one to make a mission impossible a reality. Inspector Smirnov, gloves on and sleeves rolled up joined and participated in any task that needed help and that is how we took a partnership and brought to an even higher level of trust, friendship and confidence. We truly went through the trenches together.”

“Additionally, Inspector Smirnov, personally went out on patrol making certain that the community organizations, Synagogues and Houses of Worship were safe. Being mindful to get the message to potential wrong doers that crime does not pay and that the NYPD is there to make certain that the public is protected at all times. Inspector Smirnov helped spread the word that just because these great institutions may be temporarily closed due to the Pandemic that does not give a license for vandalism, burglary or mischief. We at COJO are proud to say that not one instance of crime happened to these wonderful community pillars in the confines of Pct. 123 during the Pandemic. Again, it is thanks to Inspector Smirnov’s creativity and ingenuity and personal attention. There was no training course or Manuel to prepare Inspector Smirnov for the  unprecedented police challenges presented by the Pandemic. It was his warm heart, acumen and hands on approach that guided him. I dare say, his natural talents rose to the occasion and we thank him profusely for that. We at COJO look forward to our continued collaboration, and wish Inspector Smirnov a congratulations on his well-deserved promotion. He truly is a credit to the department, and history looking back will one day disclose the great contributions he made the residents of New York City and Staten Island in particular”, so remarked, Mendy Mirocznik, president, COJO. 

Inspector Smirnov, took Mendy Mirocznik, Scott Maurer, and Ari Weiss on a tour of Pct. 123 and outlined how policing and the NYPD “with a renewed vigor and sense of enthusiasm is looking forward to our continued relationship with COJO in making Staten Island a better place for all people.”   

“In the darkest of times and dreariest of moments, we at the NYPD had a secret weapon to fight covid and that was a phone to call COJO. Mendy, Scott, Ari and Iva no matter when I called and how rough it was COJO always came through with helpful resources. This treasure of a security blanket gave hope and optimism to many in the community. I boldly and proudly say that this was the needed antidote to the pandemic. We at the NYPD call it Vitamin L, love. It comes straight from the heart; no physician can prescribe it and no pharmacist can mix it. It taught us how to share, care and befriend one another. I pray that day when the world fully returns to a healthy reality Vitamin L, shall be part of the new healthy reality. I pray that in the transition back to normal, the world will have hopefully learnt the vital lessons of love, respect, unity and friendship. The important lessons we gained form working closely with COJO. I look forward to our continued success in our joint ventures. Truly together as partners NYPD and COJO makes a huge, meaningful and impactful difference. The best is yet to come.”