By Thomas Tracy –with Helen Klein
Over 300 graduates of the last NYPD Academy class were assigned to precincts throughout Patrol Borough Brooklyn South – with most of the number given the charge of protecting the streets of Flatbush, officials said. Officials from Patrol Borough Brooklyn South said that a total of 320 academy graduates were sent to area precincts, where they will undergo orientation and then sent to foot posts. Precinct commanders plan to place the new officers on school dismissal routes and shopping strips throughout their commands. Out of the 320 officers, 150 were sent to the 70th Precinct on Lawrence Avenue in Flatbush, where they will walk the beat in the precinct’s new Impact Zone. “The borders are not written in cement,” he said. “But for the first time we are going to have two zones in the command.” “If I had 300 new officers I would make four zones,” said Richard. “[Impact Zones] are not a negative thing. It’s making policing more effective by concentrating police officers in one area. It’s the same concept as putting a cop on every block.” The 70th Precinct patrols the streets of Flatbush and Midwood. Sixty of the officers who threw up their gloves during commencement ceremonies at Brooklyn College were sent to the 67th Precinct in East Flatbush. The remaining number were distributed throughout the remaining 11 precincts throughout Southern Brooklyn, with roughly 14 going to the 60th Precinct in Coney Island and 20 assigned to the 61st Precinct in Sheepshead Bay. Captain Vincent Stella, the commanding officer of the 61st Precinct, said that he is going to send his new officers to Emmons Avenue, Kings Highway and Avenue U. “We’re going to put them on all of the major shopping strips,” he said. Officials said that the 62nd Precinct in Bensonhurst received 10 new officers, as well as the 63rd Precinct, which covers, Flatlands, Mill Basin and Bergen Beach, among other communities. “They [the new officers] are going to help us robberies,” said Deputy Inspector Kevin McGinn, the commanding officer of the 63rd Precinct. “The new rookies that came in are going to be put on robbery posts on Ralph Avenue and Flatbush Avenue and Avenue U.” Thanks to the ten new rookies who have joined the 69th Precinct, there are more cops walking and riding through Canarsie’s streets than there had been in previous years. The 69th Precinct, said Monteforte, was “up in manpower” for 2005, with “a total uniformed presence in the precinct of about 150.” The rookies, Monteforte added, “Will be moved around in terms of time and days, depending on when crimes occur.” They will be deployed, said Monteforte, for school dismissals and in the business districts, as well as in “high crime locations and enforcing quality of life problems.” The only precinct not to receive any new officers is the 68th Precinct in Bay Ridge. “We are expecting a few officers that are being transferred out of some of the city’s Impact Zones, but the exact number has yet to be determined,” said Deputy Inspector William Aubry, the commanding officer of the 68th Precinct. Assistant Chief Joseph Fox, the commanding officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, said that the new officers, as well as transfers from area Impact Zones are doled out to different commands, “depending on need.” “After a thorough analysis all of the commands are getting what they need.” “They’ll be on foot posts and working with seasoned veterans,” Fox expected. “We’re proud to both have them and that they chose a career of service to others.” “All we ask is that if you see them on their foot posts to go up to them and say ‘good morning’ or ‘good afternoon’,” he said. “It goes a long way in promoting what we all know — that policing is done in a partnership with the community.” City officials said that this academy class, who graduated last week, “has one of the highest percentages of minorities to be hired in a single class.” Out of the 1,121 new officers, 54 percent are minority graduates, officials said. The class also had 325 graduates who have received four year college degrees, 275 with associate degrees, 14 with Master’s degrees and one who has earned a doctoral degree. Out of the graduating class, 79 percent were men, 21 percent were women. Approximately 46 percent are white, 28 percent are Hispanic, 18 percent are black, seven percent are Asian.
