The crowd that gathered at the 109th Precinct Community Council monthly meeting had waited years to hear the news that Mayor Eric Adams delivered in person at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Downtown Flushing on Nov. 13.
The mayor announced the creation of a neighborhood satellite command in College Point that will divide the 109th Precinct into two response zones, allowing police to respond more swiftly to emergencies and 911 calls. The 109th Precinct annex will utilize existing space at the NYPD’s Police Academy at 28-29 College Point Blvd. and serve Sectors Charlie and David in Whitestone, Beechhurst, Bay Terrace and College Point.
“The launch of this neighborhood satellite command will help improve emergency response times in a precinct that faces unique challenges due to its geographic size and population density,” Adams said. “By adding additional personnel and enhancing operational capabilities, we are creating a safer environment for the residents of College Point, Flushing, and Whitestone and showing that government can work for working-class New Yorkers.”
The new outpost will be staffed by 54 police officers and 12 supervisors. “The creation of this new neighborhood satellite command will enhance our ability to serve the community and contribute to the ongoing decrease in crime and disorder, which has already seen a 5% drop in this command this year,” NYPD Interim Commissioner Thomas Donlon told the crowd. “We are grateful to the community leaders who advocated for this solution, as we are confident that it will not only instill a sense of safety in New Yorkers, but also actively promote their well-being.”
The Mayor recognized familiar faces in the audience who advocated for the annex during a town hall meeting in Whitestone last year organized by Council Member Vickie Paladino.
“The need for additional NYPD support within the confines of Community Board 7 has become increasingly apparent over the last few decades,” Paladino said. “Overdevelopment and the rapid growth of Downtown Flushing have heavily burdened the 109th Precinct, resulting in a great increase in response times.”
She added that the four neighborhoods “have experienced a lack of consistent police presence, not due to any failure on the part of the Police Department but rather because of the Precinct’s overwhelming workload and understaffing.”
Paladino’s government colleagues were delighted with the mayor’s announcement. “Public safety is a critical issue,” State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky said. “Over the last two years, I have had numerous conversations with the administration about placing more resources in the northern section of the 109th Precinct, and I know residents of Queens are grateful for this commitment.”
Assembly Member Ron Kim thanked the city and the NYPD for heeding the community’s call. “This is a massive for our district — with a new satellite for the 109th Precinct office with more officers on the streets, we will be able to cover larger stretches of our district more evenly and assist Downtown Flushing with more officers and resources,” Kim said. “Our small businesses, young families, and older adults deserve to walk freely and without fear.”
Assembly Member Edward Braunstein welcomed the command’s newest police officers and supervisors. “While not the full, new precinct I and my colleagues in government have been advocating for, this is a welcome improvement that will alleviate the strain placed on officers in the 109th Precinct — the largest geographic precinct in the City of New York,” Braunstein said. “With this new satellite command, the communities of Bay Terrace, Whitestone, and College Point are expected to see overall faster response times by the NYPD.”
During the town hall meeting last year, organized by Paladino and the We Love Whitestone Civic Association, residents spoke out about their frustrations and fears of delayed emergency response times. As a result, Mayor Adams convened a dedicated 911 advisory response time committee that analyzed data, patterns, and trends. The committee then found that the geographic layout of the precinct — exacerbates response times and that the distance officers travel from the current precinct — located on Union Street in Flushing — to the more remote College Point and Whitestone neighborhoods contribute to the delay in response.
“I want to thank Mayor Adams for coming to Whitestone and listening to our presentation,” We Love Whitestone President and Founding Member Alfredo Centola said. “The mayor promised us that day that he would mandate his staff to work with us and make it happen if deemed necessary. His team kept their word, and today, we celebrate the solution. We are proud to have been part of the team that spearheaded this spectacular outcome for all our communities.”
Paladino added that she had met some of the officers who will work out of the new annex after they stopped by her district office to introduce themselves. She said they were ready to hit the ground running. “Concerns such as shoplifting, car break-ins, burglaries, car meet-ups, and drag racing have plagued our community for years,” Paladino said. “This additional support will guarantee significant improvement in those quality of life areas. I am proud to say your voices have been heard loud and clear. We look forward to and welcome the sea of blue presence.”
