The 110th Precinct wants victims of domestic violence to speak out to put an end to a crime trend sparking up within the precinct’s borders.
During the precinct’s monthly community council meeting Thursday night in Corona, Captain Ralph Forgione, executive officer at the 110th Precinct, told attendees about a 6.7 percent decrease in crimes for the 28 day to date period.
However, he added that both felony assaults and stolen cars have been driving the numbers up within the precinct.
In regards to stolen cars, Forgione said that the theft of these vehicles tends to involve tow trucks, while the theft of motorcycles involves box trucks or vans.
“If you see someone towing a car, don’t just assume that it’s a tow truck. Call us and let us pull over the guy, let us see if he’s actually towing the car or stealing the car,” Forgione said. “We got it under control last year but it’s starting again this year so we need to nip it in the bud right away.”
According to statistics, most of the felony assaults reported in the 110th Precinct are related to domestic violence. Out of 23 felony assaults so far this year, 16 have been domestic violence incidents and 15 of those were first-time offenders.
In a recent incident, an 87-year-old man beat his 83-year-old wife with a hammer while she was waiting to head into surgery at Elmhurst Hospital. According to a criminal complaint, the man didn’t “want to see her suffer.”
Forgione said they are stressing to residents the importance of reporting any cases of domestic violence and if anyone hears anything to call the precinct.
“We don’t want anybody to get hurt out there. I don’t care how old you are, it’s not normal for [a] husband to beat up on the wife, or boyfriend and girlfriend,” Forgione said. “If you hear something, let us get there. You could be saving this person’s life. Let us get involved.”
The 110th Precinct, which just last week brought in a new domestic violence sergeant from the 104th Precinct, will also conduct more outreach in the community with officers handing out fliers along Roosevelt Avenue and Broadway, and at Queens Center and Flushing Meadows Corona Park.
“We want you to report it because in order for us to combat that and help you, we need to find out how big the problem is and come up with a better solution.”
Along with going over the issues in the surrounding community, two police officers were awarded Cop of the Month plagues for their work in March.
Police Officer Seungjin Huh received his award for helping close out a burglary pattern within the precinct. On March 24 at 10 p.m., Huh responded to a burglary in process and at the scene saw a broken gate. He then got out of his patrol car to investigate and found a man in a garage. The suspect was brought in for stealing items out of the garage, but was later connected to three other charges.
Police Officer Bryan McCullough also received the Cop of the Month award for March after he helped bring in a suspect, who on March 10 allegedly robbed an 11-year-old child at knifepoint.
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