Community Heralds Reasons For Success

By Harold Egeln
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

BAY RIDGE – Ranked by the NYPD as Brooklyn South’s safest neighborhood, the 68th Precinct serving Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights and its commanding officer gave thanks to its cops this week.

“We’re ranked the second top precinct in the city in bringing crime down,� said Deputy Inspector Eric Rodriguez speaking at the precinct community council meeting on Tuesday evening. “We’re down 23 percent in crime this year from last year. That’s due to the phenomenal work of our cops.�

Last year the precinct crime rate was down five percent and in 2007 it was down 16 percent. Robberies and assaults are down 31 percent, burglaries and grand larcenies down 16 percent, and grand larceny auto thefts three percent, said the commander. Arrests are up over 30 percent and quality of life summonses are up 23 percent.

“A very important part of our success is due to our e-mail alert system,� he said. The system alerts subscribers to traffic conditions, current crime situations and crime prevention tips, and it gives people a service to register their own reports and concerns.

Ralph Perfetto, a civic and political leader, stood up to give thanks “I express my gratitude. I sat down recently for dinner with former 68th Precinct commander Ken Bradley and we talked about the community’s longtime safety record. He told me that no place supports the police force as does our community.�

The biggest problem for the precinct seems to be noisy bars on Third Avenue between 88th and 90th streets, according to Rodriguez. Responding to public complaints and police attention, he said, Shenanigans soundproofed its premises and TRACE just completed its soundproofing work.

RJ’s should have its soundproofing done within the next two weeks and will put-up noise absorbing curtains. Its bands now play weekday evenings but no longer on Friday and Saturday nights, Rodriguez explained. “We’re going to monitor the situation. We now have two cops trained in sound meters and my sergeant will be making hourly checks.�

The Cops of the Month were awarded with their wives and young children present at the meeting. “Constitency is the word of the day. It’s about building success over a long period of time,� said Rodriguez. “That’s as important as major arrests during crime sprees.�

First honored was Police Officer Steve Last, who works the evening shift, 4 p.m. to midnight. “He is very respectful and polite, a soft-spoken guy,� said Rodriguez. Next honored was Police Officer Marcello Gianquinto. “When I first came here as commander, he drove me around to familiarize me here,� said Rodriguez.

Police Officer Gregory Barrone is “one of our summons guys and another reason we’re so successful,� noted the commander. Conditions Sergeant Dennis Russo was recognized for his work patrolling the bars. “He’s one of the reasons assaults, which often take place around bars, are down,� Rodriguez said.

The 68th Precinct Community Council, led by Ilene Sacco, launched its Annual Toy Drive with the Dyker Heights Civic Association, urging people to bring a new, unwrapped toy to one of any 14 locations. The toys will be presented to the military families and their children at Fort Hamilton Army Base. Base commander Colonel Stephen Smith and Command Sergeant Major Sylvia Laughlin were present at the meeting, thankful for the support.

The Dyker civics group and precinct council will hold their annual joint holiday party on Tuesday, December 8 at 8 p.m. at St. Phillip’s Church Hall, 1072 80th Street, where additional toys will be accepted and all will be presented to the Army base. For further information on toy drop-off locations and to sign up for precinct email alerts, call (718) 307-7870.

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