STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — An NYPD religious fraternal organization presented a $1,000 donation to St. Ann’s R.C. Church in Dongan Hills this week to help repair damage caused during a recent incident while Mass was being celebrated.
Deputy Chief Terence Hurson and Lt. Steven Jerome delivered the check from the Holy Name Society of Manhattan, Bronx, and Staten Island to Rev. Jacob Thumma. The organization, founded in 1914, is the NYPD’s largest and oldest religious fraternal organization.
Hurson, a 32-year veteran who serves as the borough’s executive officer, said the donation reflected the organization’s commitment to community outreach beyond typical law enforcement duties.
“Churches are supposed to be safe places for all of us to go to. It was disturbing to learn that a daily Mass was violated in this way,” Hurson said. “Knowing the church has been damaged, and churches don’t have much funding, we figured as a Catholic community of police officers, we wanted to do a little something to help out and do some outreach.”
Deputy Chief Terence Hurson, left, and Lieutenant Steven Jerome, right, present Rev. Jacob Thumma, the pastor of St. Ann’s R.C. Church in Dongan Hills, with a $1,000 donation on behalf of the NYPD’s Holy Name Society of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com)Owen Reiter
Jerome, who commands the department’s Chaplain Unit and serves as president of the Holy Name Society, said the organization’s board was unanimous in wanting to help the church. He emphasized forgiveness for the person charged in the incident.
“My feeling is forgiveness, no matter what, in the sense that this man was having problems, obviously emotionally disturbed, and he wasn’t in the right state when he did this,” Jerome said. “We’re hoping and praying that he gets help as well.”
Father Thumma expressed gratitude for the gesture, calling it a pleasant surprise.
“I was a little surprised when I received a call from the Holy Name Society, but it was a good surprise,” he said. “Combining this aspect of law enforcement as well as the faith comes to something wonderful and marvelous; some good really comes out of that.”
He added, “I think the world has to see the other side of the NYPD.”
Rev. Jacob Thumma, center, welcomes Lt. Steven Jerome and Deputy Chief Terence Hurson upon their arrival at St. Ann’s R.C. Church in Dongan Hills on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com)Owen ReiterSuspect charged
The donation came in response to a disruptive incident that occurred at the church earlier this month.
The incident occurred Jan. 9 at approximately 7 a.m. when two NYPD officers responded to the church at 101 Cromwell Ave. According to the criminal complaint, Matthew Caffrey, 29, of Gansevoort Boulevarad in Meiers Corners, refused to leave when asked and swung a wooden chair at an officer. Police say he threw a statue of an angel to the ground, breaking off a wing and causing cracks in the church floor. He also allegedly shattered a vase.
Caffrey faces numerous charges, including multiple counts of assault, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration.