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ACTIVELY RETIREDCharles Ortiz retired in 2013 as an

Inspector, and was hired as the Parkchester Director of Public

Safety. The Parkchester Condominiums are one of the few residential complexes in New York City with its own uniformed public safety force. It is in the southeast section of the Bronx, and specifically in the northeastern part of the 43rd Precinct. With over 12,000 apartments, it has a vast need for police services similar to that of a New York City Housing Authority development. The Parkchester Public Safety Department has provided law enforcement services to its community since 1972. With 24-hour, 7-day coverage throughout the community, trained, uniformed officers with Special Patrolman status, patrol on foot, by car and on bicycles. They are in communication with the dispatch center so that residents may report suspicious activity or an emergency. They issue citations in accordance to Parkchester tenant rules and regulations, and make arrests. In addition, there are video cameras strategically placed throughout the complex to enhance patrol operations. Currently, the Parkchester Public Safety Department has more than 80 Special Patrolmen and a new executive team compliments of the NYPD.

Coming to Parchester with a wealth of knowledge, including executive law enforcement experience, and as a former resident of the community before he joined the NYPD, Director Ortiz aimed to professionalize the force. His first challenge was to merge the north and south public safety divisions into one unified team. He then improved the uniforms and patches, and sought funding from the Parkchester Executive Board to upgrade the existing fleet of vehicles. He raised requirement standards to include college credits and instituted a training curriculum modeled after the NYPD. Director Ortiz also increased staffing and implemented community affairs officers, a conditions unit and established a crime analysis unit allowing for more efficient deployment of safety personnel. Along with increasing the size of the force, he assembled a leadership team consisting of three retired NYPD supervisors: retired Lieutenant Commander Detective Squad Edwin Martinez, OCID; retired Lieutenant Elizabeth Pizarro, 33 Precinct; and retired Sergeant Douglass Maresca, PBBX.

In a brief sit down conversation with the new Parchester Public Safety

PICTURED (L-R): retired Sergeant Douglass Maresca, PBBX; Lieutenant Elizabeth Pizarro, 33 Precinct; and retired Lieutenant Commander Detective Squad Edwin Martinez, OCID.

Retired Inspector Charles B. Ortiz joined the NYPD in January 1992, and began his career on patrol in the 49 Precinct, rising to the rank of Inspector in 2007. He also served in the 40, 41, 43 and Midtown North Precincts, Police Service Area 8, the Internal Affairs Bureau, Housing Bureau Bronx/Queens Mobile Tactical Unit, the Patrol Borough Bronx Task Force and the Bronx Narcotics Division. Ortiz served as commanding officer of the 41 and 43 Precincts, and earned a Masters of Human Resource Training and Development from Seton Hall University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York. He is a 2007 graduate of the Police Management Institute at Columbia University. Director Ortiz has also worked as an adjunct professor in criminal justice at Monroe College.

Department leadership team, they opened up about life after the NYPD:

How is life in retirement?Retired NYPD Inspector and Director of Parkchester Public Safety, Charles Ortiz: We don’t consider ourselves fully retired, but life is good; however, we miss the job. It offered me a lot of opportunities, training and education. It prepared me for a second career and I’m extremely grateful. The NYPD is a phenomenal organization.

Retired NYPD Lieutenant Commander Detective and Deputy Director of Parkchester Public Safety Edwin Martinez: Coming from law enforcement and going into public safety has been a smooth transition.

Edwin Martinez joined the New York City Police Department in July 1989, and began his career on patrol at the 44 Precinct. He was promoted to Sergeant in March 1998; Sergeant Special Assignment in October 2002; Lieutenant in July 2004; and Lieutenant Detective Commander in July 2014. He has also served in the 43 and 46 Precincts, the Office of Deputy Commissioner Operations and the Bronx South Narcotics Division. Currently the Deputy Director for the Parkchester Public Safety Department, he has also served as the Squad Commander for the Organized

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Crime Investigation Division. Edwin Martinez has been recognized 56 times for Excellent Police Duty, and 11 times for Meritorious Police Duty. He retired in April 2015.

Retired NYPD Lieutenant, Captain of Parkchester Public Safety Elizabeth Pizarro: It’s a wonderful experience. The transition was seamless. The training the NYPD provided has given us an incredible foundation on how to keep improving upon the changes Director Ortiz has already implemented at Parkchester.

Elizabeth Pizarro joined the New York City Police Department in August 1993, and began her career on patrol at the 44 Precinct. She was promoted to Sergeant in October 2000; and Lieutenant in Septem-ber 2011. She has also served in the 17, 30 and 33 Precincts, as well as the Organized Crime Control Bureau, Vice, and the Citywide Traffic Task Force. Currently the Administrative Captain for the Parkchester Public Safety Department, she has also served as the Operations Coordinator for the 33 Precinct. She retired in April 2015.

Retired NYPD Sergeant and Captain of Parkchester Public Safety Douglass Maresca: There is life after the police department. The PD gave me invaluable training and experience. It’s amazing how professional the Department is, especially comparing it to other organizations. It (NYPD) really prepared me for this career.

Douglass Maresca joined the New York City Police Department in October 1990, and began his career on patrol at the 24 Precinct. He was promoted to Sergeant in February 2001. He has also served in the 49 and Central Park Precincts, as well as the Office of Deputy Commissioner Management Analysis and Planning. Currently the Investigations Captain for the Parkchester Public Safety Department, he has also served in the Investigations unit for the Patrol Borough Bronx. Edwin Martinez has been recognized four times for Excellent Police Duty, and once for Exceptional Merit. He retired in February 2014.

How can Parkchester Public Safety improve under this current leadership team?Director Charles Ortiz: Liz retired from the 33 Precinct with vast administrative and street experience. She knows how to run an organization and relate to officers. Doug is someone who is fair and thorough in sensitive internal investigations. Eddie and I go back two decades. He’s a trained investigator and a manager of investigators. I wanted to make reform in those areas, and I needed level-headed people to help assist me in those matters. We are hiring individuals with college education and military experience. They go before a panel and interview process, drug screening and criminal background checks. Now we have two to three months of academy training including physical, tactical and classroom instruction. Upon graduation, they receive field training and annual evaluations. We are outfitting them with better equipment and have just established a body camera pilot project.

“It has been my goal to make Parkchester a safe place to live, work and hang out,” said Director Ortiz. Our officers effected more than 200 arrests in 2014, and we conducted over 20 joint operations with the

Retired NYPD Police Officer Oscar Medina is currently a Parkchester Public Safety Sergeant. He joined the New York City Police Department in September 1980, and began his career on patrol in the 32 Precinct. He has served in NSU 5, and the 26 Precinct. Sergeant Medina retired in October 2000. He was hired in 2008 as a Sergeant and is currently the Assistant Integrity Control Officer. “I bring my experience to help the young guys on the job here, and they respond to me well.”

43 Precinct. We know the majority of crimes are committed by a very small segment of the Parkchester population. Parkchester residents have been very supportive of our efforts to keep this great community safe, and I know working in collaboration with the NYPD I will continue to maintain that goal.” — By PO Charles Mack

Officers from the 43 Precinct with Parchester Public Safety Officers.