“The Community Embraced Me” - NYPD 66th Precinct CO Captain Kenneth Herrarte in Exclusive Conversation with BoroPark24 Amid Promotion to Higher Rank

By Y.M. Lowy

BoroPark24 sat down with longtime Commanding Officer of the NYPD’s 66th Precinct, Captain Kenneth Herrarte, following his recent promotion within the department. In a wide-ranging conversation, Deputy Inspector Herrarte spoke about his years serving the 66th Precinct.

We understand you were recently promoted to a higher position in the NYPD. Can you first share when you were promoted to your current position, and where you’re heading next?

Yes, I was recently promoted to Deputy Inspector during an official event. Deputy Inspector is a higher rank than Captain, and, essentially, what it means for me, is growing, moving on to another command, a much larger one.

I’m keeping my options open and seeing what’s available. I recently applied for one specific area, and I’m also looking at other opportunities. Specifically, I’d like to stay within Brooklyn South. I’d still be commanding a precinct, but a busier and larger one. The 66th is a demanding command, but it is fairly small compared to some others, and the new position would allow me to command one of the larger precincts.

Some people might think the 66th is an easier precinct compared to others. Is that accurate?

I wouldn’t say easy. It’s very demanding. We don’t take the same level of violent crime that some other commands do, thankfully, but we experience a high level of property crime. That includes stolen vehicles, which have recently spiked. Multiple vehicles in just two nights.

In terms of property crime, we definitely experience a higher share compared to other commands.

Why do you think vehicle theft is such an issue here? Is this a targeted neighborhood?

It can be considered targeted in the sense that the types of vehicles in this neighborhood are the types of vehicles thieves are looking for. Toyota Sequoias and Toyota Highlanders are very popular here and are a target because they have strong secondary markets.

There are also manufacturing vulnerabilities, especially with keyless entry systems, that are very easy to compromise. So based on accessibility and opportunity, that’s why you see this happening here. While stolen vehicles are up citywide, having so many stolen in one or two nights is unusual, which is why there’s such a focus on it right now.

In cases like this, how do precincts communicate with each other if a vehicle is tracked outside the area?

We use an encrypted channel, it allows us to communicate with all commands in real time.

Just this morning, we tracked a vehicle into the confines of the 47th Precinct in the Bronx. We went over the channel, alerted them, and they were able to recover the vehicle quickly. Unfortunately, the recovered vehicle was unoccupied, so there was no arrest, but it was still a good lead. In many cases, this system does lead to arrests.

What inspired you to join the NYPD in the first place?

I was always interested in the NYPD. I actually started very young as a law enforcement explorer, which is similar to a junior intern program. I was very young, only about 15 years old, and that experience made a big impression on me.

I went to college for criminal justice, I went to John Jay College, worked on my undergrad, my graduate degree, and I was even in a PhD program for criminal justice. I thought about being a researcher, but the behind-the-scenes work wasn’t for me. I wanted to be out in the street.

That’s why, even today, I’m still out there. I think it’s important to take control of the scene. It sends a message to the community and to the cops I work with.

Looking back, what are your feelings and memories about this area overall after serving here?

I’ve lived in Bay Ridge for over 20 years, about 15 minutes away, but I really didn’t know the 66th Precinct area before coming here, not in terms of the neighborhood in general or the police precinct in particular. 

When I was told I’d be the commanding officer, I came in fresh. The community really embraced me. The level of community support here, not just for me but for the officers and supervisors, is unmatched compared to other neighborhoods I’ve worked in.

It’s a very diverse area, with many different kinds of people in Boro Park, Kensington, and Midwood. Everyone puts their best foot forward to keep the community safe. That’s something I’ll carry with me wherever I go.

As you leave this area, what would you say were your biggest accomplishments here?

Building relationships with the community and developing a strong network. That network goes beyond just the 66th.

There’s a vast amount of cameras and surveillance in this neighborhood, and the ability to share that information across commands is essential. If we are looking for a perpetrator or a suspect, it’s not just going to be relegated to the 66. We find there are connections to other commands, and that kind of information sharing is essential to solving crimes. The relationships go beyond just surveillance and camera systems. It’s about building something that can keep growing five or ten years from now, even as people in the community move on and as I move on in my career.

What crimes are most common here that people may not realize?

Property crime is the biggest issue. We were seeing a lot of burglaries, but we made progress in apprehending some prolific burglars, and that has gone down as direct result. Every now and then we see a robbery, but nothing that should create panic or extra concern.

Stolen vehicles are the biggest concern right now, and a major driver of that is scooter theft. About 56 percent of vehicles stolen last year were scooters.

Many people in the precinct who own scooters rely on them as their main mode of transportation. They live in buildings and park on the street because they have no access to garages or yards, which makes them vulnerable. Manufacturing designs also allow scooters to be stolen very quickly. It’s an ongoing challenge with no real solution now other than people should be vigilant and do the most they can to keep their belongings secure and safe - out of public eye. 

How can the community better partner with the precinct to improve safety?

There’s a big educational component. Attending community council meetings is important. We go over crime trends and talk about prevention.

For vehicle safety, GPS trackers have helped us recover cars. Blocking the OBD port can prevent thieves from creating new keys. Every vehicle has an OBD port, which is typically located beneath the dashboard or under the driver's seat. You can purchase a cover so it cannot be accessed. Old-school tools like steering wheel clubs still work.

It’s about learning from each other and working together to prevent crime.

What do you wish the public understood about police officers on a human level?

We’re a microcosm of the communities we police. We’re diverse, we have families, we work long hours. It’s a very demanding career.

When I come into work, I see people really trying their best to serve the community, that’s something I see day in and day out. We’re not perfect, but the effort is there every day.

What was the most challenging time during your years in this precinct?

The protest last year involving pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups was very challenging. We hadn’t seen something like that here before.

It required communication, and the NYPD had a solid plan to achieve that. There were no injuries and no arrests. It was a very difficult night, but it was handled successfully.

What are your priorities in your new role going forward?

I would say it is consistency. Staying present with the community, supporting officers and supervisors, and managing crime trends as they develop.

What advice would you give to the next commanding officer coming into this precinct?

Keep an open mind to the diversity of the community, continue building relationships, and push the police officers to move in the right direction.

As Deputy Inspector Herrarte prepares for his next assignment, whether within Brooklyn South or elsewhere, his years at the 66th Precinct leave behind a record of visible leadership and strong community ties with the neighborhood he served.