By Courtney Dentch
Overall crime in the 113th Precint in South Jamaica in the first six months of 2002 has declined by about 19 percent from the same period last year, but murders have risen by 75 percent, police crime statistics show.
The 103rd Precinct in downtown Jamaica showed a similar decrease of about 19 percent in overall crime, but rape incidents there were up by 13 percent, according to the statistics.
The 113th Precinct, headquartered at 167-02 Baisley Blvd. in South Jamaica, boasted double-digit declines in most other crime categories, but despite the decreases, the murder rate has spiked 75 percent for a total of seven killings so far this year.
But the sharp jump in the murder rate also reflected low numbers from this time last year, said Vivian McMillian, president of the 113th Precinct Community Council. In the first six months of 2001, the 113th Precinct had four murders, statistics showed.
Although she has no clear cause to point to for the increase, McMillian said she has noticed more gang activity in the area.
“There are a lot more gangs in the community,” she said. “They think they have something to prove.”
In the 103rd Precinct, based at 168-02 91st Ave. in Jamaica, incidents of rape have gone up by 13 percent for a total of 17 cases this year, police statistics show.
Complaints of crimes in all other categories, including burglary and felony assault, dropped in both precincts, statistics show.
Officers at both precincts refused to comment on the statistics.
The drop in the overall crime rates in both the 113th and the 103rd precincts was greater than in the Queens Borough South Patrol, where a 15 percent decline was reported for the seven precincts it covers.
The borough command, which includes the 103rd 100st, 101st, 102nd, 105th, 106th, 107th and 113th precincts, recorded a 12 percent increase in murder and an almost 10 percent rise in rape. All other categories showed decreases.
In spite of the spike in murders in the 113th Precinct in South Jamaica, almost all other categories showed double-digit declines. Rape was down by 23.8 percent, felony assault by 18.5 percent, burglary by 16.7 percent, and grand larceny by 35.1 percent. Robbery also logged a drop of 4.7 percent, while grand larceny auto remained the same as last year’s figures.
Some of the decline can be attributed to better police community relations in the precinct, McMillian said.
“The police are trying to reach out to community and work with the community on problems,” she said. “I’ve seen more people coming out to the meetings because they know they can address their problems there.”
The 103rd Precinct in Jamaica also registered double-digit decreases in most crime categories. Murder was down by 14.2 percent, felony assault by 21.3 percent, burglary by 16.9 percent, grand larceny by 32.5 percent, grand larceny auto by 11.8 percent, and robbery by 8.1 percent. Only rape showed an increase, according to the statistics.
Despite the overall declines in crime in the 103rd Precinct, Community Council President Donna Clopton said residents and business owners say there aren’t enough officers on the streets.
“The complaints I’ve been getting are that the police have low or no visibility. They’re working with a handicap,” she said of the staff cuts that have been made in the precinct.
McMillian agreed, saying more officers on the streets could reduce crime even further.
“If we had more beat cops, we would have even lower numbers,” she said. “They don’t have staff. We never had enough. Next thing you know they’re cutting the staff again.”
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com, or by phone at 229-0300 Ext. 138.
