By James DeWeese
In the 115th Precinct, which covers portions of Corona, North Corona, East Elmhurst and Jackson Heights, the number of major crimes in 2004 was down from the previous year in all but two of seven categories routinely tracked by police, data released this week showed. The data covers the entire year through Dec. 31.Despite some high-profile cases including an April murder/suicide and the brutal slaying of an East Elmhurst father in November, the number of murders in the precinct dropped from seven in 2003 to five in 2004, police statistics showed. Reports of rape, burglary, grand larceny and auto theft were also down in the precinct commanded by Deputy Inspector Douglas Rolston, the data showed. Only reports of robbery and felonious assault climbed modestly.”I think everyone is very pleased,” said Dorothy Phelan, president of the 115th Precinct Community Council. “The policing is getting better and smarter.”Phelan credited Operation Impact, a police program that currently focuses more attention along the Roosevelt Avenue corridor, and Rolston's efforts to respond to community concerns for helping reduce crime rates.The 110th Precinct, which covers Elmhurst and Corona, displayed similarly positive numbers.Murder in the precinct commanded by Deputy Inspector Martin Conway dropped 22.2 percent over the past year. The precinct recorded nine murders in 2003 and seven in 2004, according to department data. Reports of rape, robbery, felonious assault, burglary and auto theft also dropped, the data showed. Grand larceny reports, however, rose from 640 in 2003 to 710 in 2004, an increase of 10.9 percent.”We think that they really do extraordinary work with the manpower that they have,” said Debbie Cohen, president of the 110th Precinct Community Council. “The new commanding officer Martin Conway does a great job and all the rest of the leadership. You have to give them tremendous credit for how they manage to keep the neighborhood safe throughout all of Elmhurst and Corona.”Reach reporter James DeWeese by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 157.
