A Stellar Supervisor

A long and decorated career can start on a whim. Just ask Lieutenant Stephen Barrett. Today, he serves as the special operations lieutenant at the 19th precinct on the East Side, where he supervises 27 officers in plainclothes operations, anti-crime and quality of life issues. But it was only after he found himself growing tired of pursuing an engineering degree at New York Technical College that he considered becoming a cop. When a friend decided to take the exam to become a police officer, Barrett, who at the time was working full-time as a computer operator for Merrill Lynch while going to school and holding down a part-time job, decided to give police work a go. After his friend decided it was not for her, Stephen persisted and entered the Police Academy in 1987. He gave his two-week notice to Merrill Lynch the next day. To hear Barrett tell it, the academy offered â??a structured environment which I really enjoyed. He thrived there, graduating in December 1989 with a 92 average. After doing fieldwork in precincts on the Upper East and West sides, he transferred to Harlem"s 32nd precinct. â??I grew up in Crown Heights and even still it was a bit of a culture shock, said the married father of one. â??It was the tail-end of the crack epidemic but it was fun working up there. His definition of â??fun is a little different than most. One evening, Barrett recalled, he got into a struggle with an armed man and dropped his gun while trying to apprehend the suspect. Thankfully, a bystander intervened and helped with the arrest. The â??fun part for Barrett: He wound up arresting the armed man"s brother for robbery just a few months later. While Barrett can handle gun-toting thugs and serious crime with ease, it is in his work in community relations for the precinct that his dedication and people skills shine through. â??Lieutenant Barrett speaks our language and makes the community responsive to the needs of the precinct, said Barry Schneider, a member of Community Board 8 and president of the East Sixties Neighborhood Association. â??When we have a problem with late night noise, rowdy bar patrons or other issues, the situation is well in hand, thanks to Lieutenant Barrett. He is an outstanding professional. Barrett is quick to share credit with his fellow officers. â??The guys who work for me all have a very strong work ethic and there is a great camaraderie between us, he said. The feeling is obviously mutual; last year Barrett was voted the precinct"s â??Supervisor of the Year by his colleagues. But even bigger challenges lie ahead for Barrett, who may not be â??lieutenant for long's he is scheduled to take the test to become a captain in April.