By Alex Robinson
The 109th Precinct welcomed a familiar face as its new commanding officer last week.
Capt. Thomas Conforti, who served in the 109th from 2006-10, returned to the precinct he previously called home last Thursday after Inspector Brian Maguire was assigned to become commander of Narcotics Borough Queens.
“It was very nice to return. To my surprise, there were many faces there I remembered.” Conforti said in an interview. “It was a very comfortable feeling to know that a place I called home for four years I would be calling home again for the next couple of years.”
The 109th Precinct covers Flushing, Whitestone, College Point, part of Auburndale and Bay Terrace.
Conforti joined the NYPD 22 years ago and was first assigned to patrol the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville, Brooklyn. He rose through the ranks throughout the years, working in several capacities in many different precincts across the city.
He was the 109th’s detective squad commander until 2010, when he was promoted to captain and assigned to become commanding officer of the 112th Precinct.
Conforti prides himself on keeping the community informed of the precinct’s actions by having an active social media presence.
He was chosen as one of five commanders to participate in a pilot program to increase the Police Department’s local presence on Twitter in April.
“It gives an intimate inside look at what we do. It’s kind of cool,” he said. “With each precinct’s commanding officer, you get to see their personality.”
Conforti cited a Woodside train derailment in May as a good example of how the Twitter program has helped the Police Department work with the public and keep them informed.
“We took to Twitter and gave them alternate routes home and it took off,” he said. “The real effort is to reach people we wouldn’t reach usually.”
The new 109th commander chronicled his busy first day on Twitter, unpacking, getting acquainted with new staff and meeting with the area’s elected officials.
“This is a homecoming for Commanding Officer Conforti, who has deep roots in the Flushing community,” said state Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing), who met with Conforti on his first day. “I welcome him back and look forward to collaborating with him on many issues to protect and serve our communities.”
Conforti said people should expect to see him out in the streets a lot connecting with the community.
“I like being out there and engaging people as much as I can, as opposed to sitting behind a desk and managing that way,” he said.
Maguire, whom Conforti will be replacing, served as the precinct’s commanding officer for more than four years.
“It has been my pleasure to serve the community and build friendships and partnerships with people throughout the 109th Precinct,” Maguire said in an e-mail. “I am sure that I will continually look back upon these years with fondness for the people of this great command. I am grateful to the men and women of the 109th Precinct who work so hard to keep this community safe. Their efforts have made me look good.”
Reach reporter Alex Robinson by e-mail at arobinson@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
