Question Response To Recent Shooting
Though “stop-and-frisk” proved controversial in recent years, several residents at the 83rd Precinct Community Council meeting in Bushwick last Tuesday, June 17, spoke favorably of the police policy.
After residents called in gun shots in the vicinity of Evergreen Avenue and Palmetto Street, said resident Robert Camacho, police arrived in the area, but did not randomly stop or frisk any individuals nearby.
Camacho said he and his neighbors wished the police had frisked bystanders near the crime scene in hopes of finding the perpetrator with the gun, saying the law is appropriate, when there is an incident.
“Let the cop do his job,” Camacho told Deputy Inspector Anthony Tasso, commanding officer of the 83rd Precinct. “If you got nothing to hide, then don’t worry about.”
Cirilo Nunez, a Bushwick resident, said he endured his fair share of police frisks and said they can be beneficial for the neighborhood as long as they are done respectfully.
Tasso noted that if someone fits the description, he won’t hesitate to stop them, but he will always explain to the individual what is going, give them a reason and apologize afterwards if the search reveals nothing.
He passes this on to his officers and cadets, telling them, “it doesn’t make you less of a man to be respectful and apologize later.”
Meanwhile, crime is up in 83rd Precinct but “things are getting better,” according to Tasso.
Burglaries are up from 2013, because people are leaving their windows open and doors unlocked, or their air conditioning unit is improperly secured. Most burglaries have not involved force, he noted.
Robberies are down, but remain an issue. Cell phones and electronics are being snatched by teens on bikes, explained Tasso. Also, iPhones are at the top of the list, while Samsung phones ring in at number two.
“We have a habit of getting lost in that cell phone,” said Tasso who encouraged attendees to be mindful of their surroundings.
Auto thefts are also up for the year and in the last 28 day period, with motorcycles and model vehicles 10 years and older targeted, the commander noted.
Vehicles are not being recovered because perpetrators are selling them for the metal, due to a law that doesn’t require a title or registration for scrapping vehicles older than seven years.
Summer block parties are turning up the volume in the precinct. The neighborhood used to see over 15 block parties a day, said 83rd Precinct Community Council President Barbara Smith, but now they are down to an allotted seven block parties a day.
Smith encouraged block party organizers to be respectful and shut down their parties half an hour early to give time to others.
Cop of the Month
The Cop of the Month award went to P.O. Joseph Giannina who responded to a disturbance call in Putnam Park.
Upon approaching a man who was thought to be the real threat, Giannina soon discovered he had been the victim of a robbery by a 17- year-old male. The officer approached him and, after a struggle, arrested him and recovered a loaded .357 Magnum handgun, it was noted.
Tasso and Smith presented Giannina with a plaque donated by the Times Newsweekly for his efforts.
Immigration fraud
Martiza A. Ming, chief of the Immigration Fraud Unit (IFU) at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office (DA), stated the bureau is taking action against immigration fraud in Brooklyn.
Immigrants are losing tens of thousands of dollars through businesses, attorneys, and “specialists” who claim to provide legitimate immigration services.
Other individuals falsely promise to sponsor Visas or employment training for a fee, according to literature from the DA’s office.
Ming made clear that undocumented immigrants who file complaints will be kept confidential.
Immigrants who believe they have been scammed were urged to call the DA’s Immigrant Fraud Unit Helpline at 1-718-250-3333. For more information, email the IFU at IFU@BrooklynDA.org and visit www.BrooklynDA.org.
Other news
Patrol Borough Brooklyn North will hold its annual Harmony Picnic on Thursday, July 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Herbert Von King Park, located at 670 Lafayette Ave.
On Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., the 83rd Precinct will host its National Night Out Against Crime at Maria Hernandez Park, located at the corner of Knickerbocker Avenue and Suydam Street. The event will include a free BBQ, giveaways and cell phone and bicycle registration.
The 83rd Precinct Community Council will not meet in July and August. Its next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the stationhouse located at 494 Knickerbocker Ave. For more information, call the Community Affairs Unit at 1-718-574-1697, or follow the 83rd Precinct on Twitter, @NYPD83Pct.
