By Michael Morton
Jamaica's 103rd Police Precinct, previously saddled with the highest increase in murders in the city, saw homicides plummet in 2004 as the area tried to shake its past reputation for violence.”I believe we did have the largest decrease in murders in the city, so I'm very happy about that,” Inspector Robert Napolitano, commander of the 103rd, told those gathered for a community council precinct meeting in December.The 103rd Precinct recorded 13 murders in 2002, a total that rose in 2003 to 29 for an increase of 123 percent. The number of homicides then fell by more than 34 percent from 29 to 19 in 2004, according to year-end statistics recently released by the Police Department.Total crime, as tracked by seven major categories including murders, was down only slightly, reflecting decreases in robbery, felony assault and grand larceny auto but also increases in burglary, grand larceny and rape. Rape rose from 35 reports to 45, a 28 percent increase, in the 103rd Precinct, which is bounded by the Van Wyck Expressway in the west, Hillside Avenue in the north, Francis Lewis Boulevard in the east and 110th Avenue in the south.Donna Clopton, president of the precinct's community council, said residents had not complained to her about rapes but had brought her attention to ongoing burglaries in the area framed by Sutphin Boulevard, 110th Avenue, the Van Wyck and Hillside Avenue.So far, no one has been hurt in the break-ins, but “you don't know what these people are going to do,” she said, referring to the thieves. Burglaries rose 12 percent in the 103rd Precinct, from 315 to 353 in 2004, the highest category increase in the precinct after rape reports.Overall, crime dropped less than 1 percent, from 2,022 incidents to 2,017. The community hopes that by reducing crime, Jamaica can clean its tarnished image and attract more investment in the area's economy, particularly along the Jamaica Avenue business corridor in downtown.”We want to change the face of Jamaica,” Clopton said. “People believe it's so bad, but it's no different than any other neighborhood.” She said the community had a responsive commander in Napolitano but would like to see more police manpower in the area and more residents at council meetings.Despite the drop in murders, the 103rd was still the site of a number of notable homicides last year. A 31-year-old man was shot and killed in an apparent robbery by two assailants Dec. 29 in the bathroom of downtown Jamaica's Colosseum Mall in the middle of the afternoon.That followed the murder of a South Ozone Park 78-year-old in a Jamaica park in August, allegedly after a plan to intimidate him into selling his house to one of the suspects later arrested went awry.Before that, police rescued a dehydrated 2-year-old girl from a parked SUV on an area street in October and found the decomposed body of her 32-year-old mother; the woman's common-law-husband was later arrested in connection with the crime.Two murdered residents were also innocent bystanders in separate disputes that turned violent.A 35-year-old construction worker was hit with a stray bullet in February and killed after a basketball tournament outside a St. Albans middle school. Earlier in the month a 24-year-old corrections officer died after being struck during a shooting at a party in Jamaica.Despite those crimes, murders still decreased in the 103rd Precinct, and Napolitano pointed to an initiative undertaken in 2004 to put more police on the streets.”We made a diligent effort to put officers out on foot this year, and it made a big difference,” he said. As a specially designated “impact command” again in 2005, the inspector said he expected to add 50 more rookie cops soon to conduct patrols.While homicides dropped, Clopton said a police program to turn in weapons had not resulted in many firearms being taken out of circulation. She said the culture of guns needed to be addressed, particularly among the youth.”They see it as a means of strength,” she said of being armed.Nevertheless, she said the community had improved in 2004, with the majority of murders having taken place for specific reasons and between people who knew each other, such as family members, rather than at random.”You worry about your safety because of these miscellaneous bullets, but I think they feel a little safer,” Clopton said of residents.Reach reporter Michael Morton by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
