To Protect and Serve

Our Pinecrest Police Department held its annual awards ceremony last week, where we recognized the achievements of a Department that consistently delivers results. Since incorporation, crime has dropped 65%, and our response time is now just over two minutes — fastest in our history.

During the ceremony, Chief Cohen shared stories of Officers responding to life-threatening medical emergencies, using CPR and AEDs to stabilize residents and local employees until fire-rescue arrived. Five officers earned Life-Saving Awards for those actions. We also honored Officers injured while stopping dangerous incidents on US-1, including an attempted intersection takeover where one Officer’s foot was run over and fractured. Another officer suffered a fracture while, on foot, pursuing a suspect fleeing an accident scene.  Their courage keeps our Community safe.

Just as important is the daily compassion our Officers deliver - they go above and beyond not just for us, but for our greater Community. After the recent hurricane in Jamaica, they organized a food drive to help. And throughout the year, they work closely with Front Porch, helping collect groceries from Residents’ doorsteps to supply local food banks.

From crime watch meetings and school visits to Halloween events (even donning superhero costumes to thrill our youngest Residents), our Officers are engrained in our Village’s DNA – just as our Founders intended.

This Season, our Police are hosting a holiday toy drive for children in underserved communities. If you’d like to participate, please drop off new (unwrapped) toys at the Community Center or Village Hall.

Finally, please join in congratulating Officer Andrés Garcia, our Officer of the Year.  And let’s thank all those in our Village Police Department for their dedication.  Our Community policing model works and it is world-class.  All a part of what makes Pinecrest special.

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Warm holiday wishes to you and your families,