Prospect Park

The Daily Plant : Monday, December 3, 2007

Honoring One Of New York's Finest And A True Hero

Photo by Malcolm Pinckney

Two years ago Detective Dillon Stewart lost his life protecting the people of Brooklyn. To properly honor this hero, last week, the newly renovated playground at the Prospect Park Parade Grounds was dedicated to him.

On November 27, Commissioner Benepe was joined by Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Kings County District Attorney Charles Hynes, City Council Member Mathieu Eugene, Community Board 14 Chair Alvin Berk, Prospect Park Alliance President Tupper Thomas, and the family of the late Detective Dillon Stewart at the dedication. Due to that morning's bad weather, the ceremony was held in the gymnasium of P.S. 249, across the street from the park.

The reconstruction of this playground was made possible by approximately $1.5 million in City funding secured by former City Council Member, and now U.S. Representative, Yvette D. Clarke. The Public Safety, Community Environment and Youth Committees of Brooklyn Community Board 14 approached the Department of Parks & Recreation asking that the playground be dedicated to Detective Stewart.

Detective Stewart, a five-year veteran of the NYPD who was assigned to the 70th Precinct in Brooklyn, grew up in East Flatbush and had distinguished himself with his commitment to the neighborhoods he served. Stewart was 35 years old when, on November 28, 2005, he was fatally shot in the chest while trying to stop a vehicle that had been driving erratically.

Detective Stewart was posthumously awarded the NYC Police Department Medal of Honor on June 15, 2006. On November 8, 2007, State Supreme Court Judge Albert Tomei sentenced Dillon’s killer to life in prison without parole. Stewart is survived by his wife Leslyn, his daughters Samantha and Alexis, his mother Mrs. Winifred Fleming and his sisters Nadine and Cheryl.

Detective Dillon Stewart Playground was designed by Christian Zimmerman, Director of Design and Construction for the Prospect Park Alliance. It is located on Parade Place and Caton Avenue at the southeast corner of the Prospect Park Parade Grounds.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

“Cherish your own emotions and never undervalue them.”

Robert Henri
(1865 - 1929)