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MAYOR GIULIANI AND COMMISSIONER SAFIR HONOR HERO POLICE OFFICER SHIRLEY
CHAMBERS FOR OUTSTANDING POLICE WORK DURING BEAUTY PARLOR ROBBERY
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Police Commissioner Howard Safir today presided over a City Hall ceremony honoring the heroic efforts of 33 year-old Police Officer Shirley Chambers who successfully thwarted an armed robbery at a beauty salon in Brooklyn while off-duty last month. The Mayor and Police Commissioner thanked and congratulated Officer Chambers for putting the safety of the numerous salon clients and employees above all else when she wounded, subdued and arrested an armed suspect after announcing she was a police officer.
"It is an honor to welcome Officer Shirley Chambers to City Hall today," Mayor Giuliani said. "Officer Chambers is a perfect example of why the New York City Police Department is the greatest police force in the world. Her quick and decisive actions while facing an armed suspect saved lives. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want to thank Officer Chambers for her courageous actions."
Police Commissioner Safir said, "Officer Chambers acted courageously and quickly in a dangerous situation that could have resulted in serious injuries to the patrons of the beauty salon, as well as to herself. Thanks to her intelligent police work, no one was hurt, and two dangerous criminals were apprehended. I join the Mayor and all New Yorkers in extending my thanks to Officer Chambers on a job well done."
At approximately 6:30 P.M. on Friday, January 16th, Officer Chambers, who is assigned to Transit District #30 in Brooklyn, was getting her hair done along with 13 other patrons in My Dream Beauty Salon at 109 Moffat Street in Brooklyn, when store employees buzzed in a woman who was immediately followed in by a man with a gun. After demanding that no one move, the suspect announced a robbery, took several hundred dollars from the cash register and attempted to flee from the store.
Officer Chambers identified herself as a police officer and ordered the suspect to drop his weapon. As the suspect moved toward Officer Chambers, a struggle ensued and Officer Chambers fired a single shot, striking the suspect in the chest. Officer Chambers kicked the suspect's gun away, handcuffed him and kept him covered while telling a 911 operator of the incident.
The suspect, identified as 32 year-old Daniel Graves of Brooklyn, was removed to Brookdale Hospital and charged with Robbery and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. A second suspect, 32 year-old Zena Kelly, who was buzzed into the store immediately preceding the robbery, was also placed under arrest at the scene for acting as an accomplice. Police later recovered a defaced handgun at the scene and $379.00 in US currency from Daniel Graves. Both suspects have criminal records, including prior arrests on various narcotics offenses.
Officer Chambers was first appointed to the Police Department's Transit District on August 30, 1993. The four-year veteran, who resides in Brooklyn, was joined at the City Hall ceremony today by family and friends, including best friends Glenn Young and Dawn Brown and her cousin, Kimberly Lou Allen.
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