Sexual Predators Leave School Board Clamoring For Cops

In the wake of last months sexual assault at P.S. 89 in Elmhurst, police presence has increased significantly at the much-maligned elementary school. However, according to one Community School Board 30 member, that kind of security presence has not been felt throughout the entire district.
John Ciafone, a community activist and presence within the northwest Queens school district for several years said the intruder that molested four children in P.S. 89s empty stairwells never should have had the opportunity to strike his young prey. "This could have been prevented," Ciafone told The Queens Courier.
A week prior to the incident, at a meeting between the school board, community members, and the police department, Ciafone asked New York City Police Commissioner Bernie Kerik to station at least one officer outside the districts 26 elementary and junior high schools. However, unlike the immediate reaction taken at P.S. 89, where police can be now be found overseeing students as they enter and exit the school, Ciafone said police have been slow to react to his request.
"Ive never seen anything like this," said Ciafone. "There has been absolutely no progress. The cops say they dont have enough manpower, but there are three to four cops outside of Long Island City and Bryant high schools."
Although the incident at P.S. 89 has garnered much of the media attention, several northwest communities remain fearful of a man police believe has raped at least five times since May of 1999.
During the latest attack, on Sept. 25 in Astoria, the perpetrator, referred to now in the media as the "latchkey rapist" entered the home of an 11-year-old girl by posing as a plumber. The girl was viciously raped by a man police describe as a male Hispanic, between 20 and 30 years old, 58" to 511," between 150 and 190 pounds, slight to medium build with dark, short hair.
Although the description vaguely matches that of the man sought in the P.S. 89 case, Detective Brian Kenzik of Queens Special Victims Squad said as of yet he does not believe the two incidents were perpetrated by the same man.
"I would have thought this latest incident would have shaken things up," adds Ciafone. "But, kids are not a priority. The police need to stop worrying about tickets and start worrying about the kids."