BOB FRIEDRICH AND EASTERN QUEENS UNITED
Last week, a convicted killer escaped from the state-run Creedmoor Psychiatric facility in Bellerose, where he was being held for observation.
This is a serious concern to the civic leaders of this community and other nearby community organizations.
Creedmoor is located in an area of single family homes and is very close to Glen Oaks Village, a co-op community of 10,000 residents. It is situated across the street from a children’s playground in Alley Pond Park, one of Queens’ largest parks.
The escape was also brazen for the ease in which it was accomplished. Exchanging clothes with a visiting friend was enough to allow a convicted killer to walk out undetected and into the neighborhood.
The stunning failure in security by the State Office of Mental Health has been a sore point with community leaders for many years.
The state has consistently failed to provide adequate funding to properly secure this large institution and as a result, numerous incidents have occurred which has put a strain on the already over-burdened local police precinct.
The time has come for real and serious action. Community leaders and local elected officials are calling for a full investigation and a security plan of action in which all stakeholders in the community must be involved.
Eastern Queens is a wonderful part of the city and is fortunate to have an active and vocal group of civic associations that seek to protect the quality of life of the communities they represent.
These civic associations represent thousands of folks that live along the tree-lined streets that surround Creedmoor. We are confident that elected officials, affected agencies and other community organizations will work together to resolve the security issues plaguing the Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital.
Responding to this breach in security at Creedmoor, a coalition of more than a dozen civic presidents have issued a seven-point plan of action, which you can read below:
1. A full investigation of this incident.
2. Adoption of a comprehensive security plan for the entire Creedmoor campus that would prevent a recurrence of a similar incident in the future.
3. NYS Office of Mental Health must provide the resources to fund a proper level of security.
4. Disclosure and transparency as to the type of individuals being housed at Creedmoor.
5. A Community Notification Protocol to provide immediate alerts of dangerous situations.
6. A similar review and assessment of security at nearby Zucker-Hillside Hospital.
7. The inclusion of nearby civic associations and other stakeholders in the outreach and development of a security plan.
Jerry Wind, president of the Bellerose Hillside Civic Association
Bobby Sher, president of the Bell Park-Manor Terrace Co-op
Michael O’Keeffe, president of the Creedmoor Civic Association
Bob Friedrich, president of the Glen Oaks Village Co-op
Michael Castellano, president of the Lost Community Civic Association
Bruno DeFranceschi, president of the North Bellerose Civic Association
Judith Cohen, president of the North Hills Estates Civic Association
Richard Hellenbrecht, president of the Queens Civic Congress
Angela Augugliaro, president of the Queens Colony Civic Association
Jim Trent, president of the Queens County Farm Museum
Mo Ishmael, president of the Queens Village Civic Association
Frank Toner, president of the Rocky Hill Civic Association
Rhonda Kontner, president of the Royal Ranch Homeowners Association
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