Crime Continues to Increase, NYPD Emphasizes Importance of Community/Police Communication

   by Yehudit Garmaise

     The NYPD reported today that the overall index crime in New York City increased by 11.2% in October 2021, compared with October 2020, however Mayor Bill de Blasio continues to place the burden of policing on the residents whose salaries pay the taxes of police officers.

     Robberies, felonious assaults, and crimes of grand larceny saw all saw increases nearing 20%, while murders and rapes saw negligible decreases that are under 10%.

     Today, during his daily press call, the mayor again called on more New Yorkers to get more involved with policing and go to neighborhood meetings to “improve police and neighborhood relationships.”

     While neighborhood watch groups and communication with neighborhood community officers are always good ideas, this morning, BoroPark24 asked the mayor why New Yorkers who work, have large families, and extensive community involvement cannot merely expect the NYPD, whose salaries are paid by taxpayers, to keep the city safe, without residents attending meetings at their local precincts.

      “I can really understand that, and I appreciate that,” Mayor de Blasio responded. “People have busy lives, they have a lot of their plates, and a lot of struggles.

     “People probably think, ‘Hey, I want, as much as possible taken care for me,’ and that is fair, that is understandable, except, when it comes to policing, to be fair, the more people get involved, the better off we are.”

     The mayor said he understood that not everyone has the energy or the time to get involved with police departments to keep their neighborhoods safe, but New Yorkers should remember that “the notion that you can just hire police, send them in, and everything is taken care of: that was debunked decades ago."

      “So many good people in American policing understand the true path to safety comes between a connection between the people being served and their guardians,” said the mayor, who reiterated that he is not requiring everyone to get involved in community policing.

     “I am saying for those who can: who have the time and energy, and that is a lot of New Yorkers, who have come forward to get involved in working with their local precincts, it really helps.

     “Police really need to understand what is being felt at the community level. They need the information to do their jobs. That community involvement makes a difference.”

     Rodney Harrison, the NYPD’s Chief of Department also clarified further that while not everyone has to go to neighborhood policing meetings, strengthening the connections, in any way, between neighborhoods and local police officers significantly helps to stop crime and violence.

     “Remember this,” said Chief Harrison, “our neighborhood coordination officers have cell phones, and email addresses and [by receiving crime tips from the communities] to which they are assigned to protect, honestly, is only going to cause success.”

     “Every time a community resident tells a police officer,” explained the mayor, “‘Hey I think something unusual is happening,’ or ‘Hey, I think someone may have a weapon,’ or ‘There may be a problem brewing that needs to be stopped,’ a lot of crime and violence can be stopped. That communication allows our officers to do the very best jobs they can.”