By Nick Christophers
On Sunday, October 20th crowds converged at the 107th Precinct in Fresh Meadows and not to create trouble but to take part in an idea that may come to life down the line. The idea is the brainchild of Sergeant Special Assignment John Schroeder and Police Officer Joe Marino Sr. The Patrol Borough Queens South Museum which is the project both retired officers planned stands as a testament to the blood, sweat, and tears of the past and present men and women who worked for the NYPD.
The 107, which is a functioning building, opened its doors to the public to view NYPD memorabilia dating back to the 1800’s. From posters to vintage police badges and patches it was a treasure trove of police artifacts that would interest all ages. The journey to put this all together began with an idea Sgt. Schroeder and PO Marino Sr had. They both approached then Chief Thomas Dale about creating displays on the walls of the precinct to honor the men and women on duty. Chief Dale warmed up to the idea as long as they designed “A Line of Duty” memorial for those who sacrificed themselves. That was a no-brainer and the project took root.
One of the individuals who had a display of vintage items was retired Lieutenant Jerry Lenon from the 71st Precinct in Brooklyn. Jerry was on duty from 1983-2008. Jerry was one of the individuals that Sgt. Schroeder reached out to since he knew Jerry was big on preserving police memorabilia.
“I always loved police memorabilia, and I enjoy preserving items from NYPD history. Many of the items I have saved are now considered vintage. These types of items should not be in a garage or in a home but rather available for the public to see and appreciate their history. Every item tells a story,” added Jerry.
There was one very interesting item Jerry had which was the NYPD leather jacket of WWII decorated Air Force pilot Sgt. Kennedy who earned the Flying Cross which was the highest medal you can be given. Also, on hand at the event was decorated Detective Ralph Friedman who was a force to be reckoned with during his time on the job in the Bronx. He was showcasing his powerful book titled “Street Warrior” which chronicles his explosive life on the job and the amazing work that he did.
Sergeant Special Assignment John Schroeder’s father was also a police officer as he is a second-generation officer. When he was transferred to the Patrol Borough Queens South, he noticed that the walls of the building were bare, he knew he had to come up with an idea to make it more representative of what the men and women do on an everyday basis. That thought pattern is what planted the seed to bring to what it had become on October 20, 2024. It must be noted that there are other operational Police Museums in Florida, DC, and Rhode Island. But New York, which has so much police history and to not have one is a shame. This is what Sgt. Schroeder and Officer Marino Sr want to accomplish and bring to life.
“We began with a showcase on the 3rd floor of the building, and it began to grow as others came to us to donate their memorabilia. But since it is an operational building you can’t have the public come and go to view the displays. We are hoping the department can acknowledge it as a functional museum. The current PBQS Borough Commander Chief Williams allows us to carry it on but the bottom line is to move it to a more public place so it will be more accessible to the public.”
Since the 107 is a functioning precinct, it is not an open house as it was on October 20th but anyone who is interested in viewing the displays they can contact PBQS Operations / PBQS Museum Curator Navdeep Singh to schedule a tour. They want to ensure the display lives on and is not discarded after a change of leadership at the PBQS. This is one project that should see the light of day as New York needs such a museum to honor those who put on the badge to protect and serve so we can sleep soundly knowing they are out there for our best interests.
