112th Pct. Targets Bad Drivers, Jaywalkers
The 112th Precinct has traded low crime rates for higher traffic accidents, the commanding officer reported at the 112th Precinct Community Council Meeting last Wednesday May 21, at the Forest Hills stationhouse.
Capt. Thomas Conforti reminded the room of two pedestrian fatalities in recent months, including an individual killed earlier that morning when he was ran over by a tractor trailer backing up in a supermarket parking lot.
Through June 6, the NYPD will have a “Vision Zero initiative within the command,” explained Capt. Hugh Bogle, 112th Precinct executive officer, who runs the traffic program. They will be ticketing drivers on cell phones, texting while driving, speeding and failure to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks.
There was applause when Assistant Chief Diana Pizzuti, commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens North, and Conforti confirmed pedestrians will also be receiving summons during the week of enforcement.
“Our analysis of what’s going on is that everyone is so fast to blame the motorist. We can take a field trip right now to Queens Boulevard and I will guarantee you we’ll find at least 20 people jaywalking,” said Conforti.
Conforti continued with regard to the recent fatalities, “Now that’s two lives lost, and we have to take a strong stance, and if [issuing summonses is] what we have to do to try and get people to save their lives, then that’s what we have to do.”
Pizzuti spent some time with the community and fielded mostly traffic related issues residents are dealing with such as lengthy crossings on Queens Boulevard and Austin Street, vehicles double parking, buses not pulling over to the curb, the taxi stand on 71st Avenue and Queens Boulevard, cyclists not abiding traffic laws and e-bikes.
In February and March, the precinct confiscated 47 e-bikes, said Conforti, which forced those drivers back to their bicycles.
While they can’t target delivery cyclists or messengers, explained Bogle, they will enforce traffic laws on cyclists if they are not abiding. The same policy holds for e-bikes.
Community Affairs chief talks
Community Affairs Bureau Chief Joanne Jaffee spoke briefly at Wednesday night’s meeting to highlight the bureau’s enthusiasm to connect with committees in New York City with its many branches.
Before Police Commissioner Bill Bratton appointed her, Jaffee was the chief of the Housing Department for 10 1/2 years.
Jaffee explained that Bratton recently rebuffed calls by City Council members to hire 1,000 more officers due to budgetary restrictions. She said that everyone would prefer more officers, but the budget can’t handle it. As a result, the force will focus on improving the current force.
“We have to do more,” the chief said. “They are looking at ways of duplication in the police department and more efficient and effective ways we can police communities and get people involved … I’m not going to stand there and demand a 1,000 more cops because the City Council is doing it. We, as a city, we work for the mayor.”
Jaffee emphasized her enthusiasm for connecting with the community, getting teens and immigrants involved and focusing on crime prevention. She said the bureau plans on expanding the youth programs and working with the gang division to crack down on activity around schools and in the community.
“It’s really about preventing crime not just arresting people, that’s the last thing we want to do. It’s really about preventing crime and reaching kids before they make, what I call, stupid decisions,” said Jaffee, “which is bad decisions, but when you’re 15 it takes a while to grow brains.”
Jaffee also commended Conforti as one of the most open captains in the NYPD as he is known for working very closely with his community and releases information to keep residents informed.
Cop of the Month
Deputy Inspector Michael Tefler of Transit District 20 presented the Cop of the Month award to P.O. Gregory Prepall for his Apr. 20 arrest of a cell phone snatcher on the Queens Boulevard line.
Upon arrest, a second phone was discovered in the perpetrator’s pocket. It was linked to a previous crime reported when a woman in the area was robbed after the suspect threatened to kill her.
In making the arrest, Prepall discovered the perpetrator had a ticket for Ecuador and was scheduled to leave that night
“He was doing his shopping in the subway prior to leaving,” said Teffler.
Other news
The state is raising the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) from $29,000 to $50,000 come July 1, informed Brent Weitzberg, a liaison for Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi. Weitzberg encouraged seniors to wait until July 1 before applying.
The Queens Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be honored June 2 for winning an annual award for New York City presented by NYC’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Heidi Harrison Chain, the precinct council president and CERT team member, said the volunteers have responded to natural disasters citywide and works very closely with Conforti. The group won the award in 2013 for Queens.
A graffiti cleanup is scheduled for May 31 at 9 a.m. at the 112th Precinct stationhouse. They are looking for as many volunteers as possible. Students will get a certificate for community service.
The next 112th Precinct Community Council meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 18, at 7:30 p.m. at the stationhouse located at the corner of Austin Street and Yellowstone Boulevard in Forest Hills. For more information, call the 112th Precinct Community Affairs Unit at 1-718- 520-9321.
