Top Cop August 2006

On August 29, 2006 Police Officers Richard Lester and Scott Gregory were assigned to ESU Truck 2421. At approximately 1620 hours they heard an assignment broadcast in the Third Precinct for an abduction that occurred in the parking lot of Wal-Mart on Hempstead Tpk in East Meadow. A notification was broadcast for a maroon Chrysler with a partial New York plate of “BME.” The vehicle was last scene westbound on Hempstead Tpk from Wal-Mart in East Meadow.

Officers Lester and Gregory headed east on Hempstead Tpk through Uniondale. As the Officers passed over the Meadowbrook Pkwy they observed a car fitting the description traveling westbound on Hempstead Tpk. The Officers turned around and followed the vehicle into Hempstead. As the Officers awaited further information from headquarters they kept the vehicle in sight. The driver of the vehicle aware that the police were following him turned southbound and lost the Officers in the side streets. The Officers searched through the back streets of Hempstead and observed the vehicle on Front St and Peninsula Blvd. The vehicle attempted to evade the ESU Officers but he was forced over and came to a stop.

Officer Gregory approached the passenger side and observed a woman in distress. He notified Officer Lester who ordered the driver out of the vehicle at gunpoint. Officer Gregory questioned the woman and determined that the driver had abducted her at knife point from the Wal - Mart parking lot. The driver was handcuffed and was found to be in possession of that knife.

Police Officers Richard Lester and Scott Gregory used there keen sense of observation and a experienced “gut reaction” to bring a terrifying situation to a safe conclusion. Their actions resulted in the arrest of a violent felony offender and prevented further harm to the victim.