104th Precinct Tackling Public Nuisances
Quality-of-life problems at public parks and in communities dominated the conversation during the 104th Precinct Community Council meeting last Tuesday night, June 17, at Middle Village’s Christ the King Regional High School.
Capt. Christopher Manson, the 104th Precinct’s commanding officer, reported the precinct is working to quickly shut down parks across the confines and keep trespassers out- but it’s not an easy task.
“Highland Park is packed,” Manson stated as one example. On recent weekends, the park straddling the Brooklyn/Queens border in Glendale has been filled with parties featuring loud music playing on stereos or boom boxes.
Working with the neighboring 75th Precinct, 104th Precinct officers enter Highland Park at 8:30 p.m. every night and begin shutting it down, Manson said.
“We bring in whatever officers we can,” he stated. “We give out summonses. We’re going to begin confiscating these stereos and generators they have hooked up.”
Though Highland Park is generally cleared within an hour, police continue to find unlawful loiterers in the park well past dusk. Those individuals receive summonses, according to Manson.
Meanwhile, the 104th Precinct assigned officers on scooters to patrol Juniper Valley Park in Middle Village every night from 7:30 p.m. to 4 a.m. to clear out the park and keep loiterers away, the commander stated. Auxiliary officers have also been dispatched to assist in closing the park down every night.
However, Manson cautioned “you’re always going to have certain problems at Juniper with youths sneaking it at night,” drinking beers or smoking marijuana. To that end, police have arrested youths at the park who were found allegedly using pot or other drugs at night.
Manson said the precinct is also turning its attention to Mafera Park in Ridgewood, where illegal barbecues and nighttime loitering have been reported by residents.
Asked by Precinct Council President Mario Matos about efforts to crack down on noise pollution, the captain noted the precinct received via the 311 hotline an influx of related complaints, such as extraneously loud barbecues to patrons loitering and talking outside area bars.
“We continue to hammer these bars and check on them,” Manson said, adding officers are shutting down “the worst of the worst” for various quality-of-life infractions from excessive noise to illegally serving alcohol to minors.
The captain, however, urged patience from local residents who want police to act on noise complaints, as a response may be delayed due to a heavy volume of calls for assistance.
“If there’s a problem, call,” Manson advised. “We’ll get there as fast as we can, but on Friday and Saturday nights, don’t expect us to come right away.”
Crime update
Overall, the precinct is “doing very well” in reducing crime, Manson stated. He reported a 30 percent decrease in crime over the previous four weeks, and that crime year-to-date is finally down after trending upward for much of 2014.
The commander touted “significant reductions” in robberies, felony assaults and burglaries, though rapes were slightly higher for the year. All of the rape cases, he noted, were either domestic or statutory in nature.
Grand larcenies and auto thefts remain high, but Manson stated the command is “starting to see a decline” in both categories.
A Ridgewood resident alerted police to individuals allegedly using marijuana near a laundromat on Putnam Avenue between Seneca and Onderdonk avenues in Ridgewood. The captain stated he would dispatch the 104th Precinct Conditions Team to investigate.
Cops of the Month
Police Officers Edwin Diaz and Christopher Farinaccio were honored as Cops of the Month for rescuing a woman and animals from a Ridgewood apartment that caught fire back in April.
As previously reported, the fire started at about 11:30 a.m. on Apr. 24 inside a third-floor apartment on Fresh Pond Road near 68th Road. Diaz and Farinaccio came across the scene and entered the building in search of victims.
In doing so, Manson said, the officers came across a woman and brought her to safety.
They reportedly ran back into the burning building to rescue pets inside the dwelling.
The commander particularly applauded their brave acts as it happened just a week after a police officer lost his life while attempting a rescue during a fire in Coney Island.
Matos and Manson presented the officers with plaques in recognition of their efforts.
Applauding volunteers
The commander also offered awards to two volunteer law enforcement groups who assist police in keeping the 104th Precinct area safe all year long.
Manson offered plaques to the 104th Precinct Auxiliary Unit, which-under the direction of its coordinator, P.O. Charles Sadler- assists regular officers in tasks ranging from cleanups at the precinct’s Ridgewood stationhouse to providing crowd control at major events.
“When I need them, they always show up,” the commander said.
He also recognized the 104th Precinct Civilian Observation Patrol (104COP), whose 67 members- under the direction of its president Frank Kotnik-patrol streets every night and assist police with traffic details when necessary.
Manson particularly recognized the 104COP’s assistance during searches for “special category missing persons,” such as children under 10 years of age, persons with autism or elderly seniors with dementia.
Since Capt. Timothy Brown, the precinct’s executive officer, authorized 104COP to participate in those searches, the commander noted, volunteers helped to successfully locate two missing individuals.
The 104th Precinct Community Council will not meet in July and August. Its next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Regional High School, located at 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. in Middle Village. For more information, visit www.104pcc.org or call the 104th Precinct Community Affairs Unit at 1-718-386-2431.
