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Community Corner

70 Meeting Notes: Parade Grounds and Other News

70 Meeting Notes: Parade Grounds and Other News

It was a full house last night, and Deputy Inspector Monteforte -- the commanding officer of the 70th Precinct --handed out lots of awards to police officers for getting guns off the streets.

Transit police officer Finley spoke and asked that subway riders on the Q/B lines please not use their fancy phones, laptops and ipads on the trains as there has been an increase in folks snatching said belongings and running off. She said it is almost impossible to hold on to the belongings when someone tries to snatch them, no matter how strong you think you are. Stations in our neighborhood are above ground and thieves are gone in a minute. She explained what they are doing to increase security, with officers riding trains and doing sweeps of trains, with special attention to Church Avenue, Beverley and Cortelyou stops. Also note that there is an officer on duty at all times at the Parkside stop.

Then Councilmember Eugene addressed the crowd. It was not a warm welcome he received, given he had not read his emails from many of the neighbors in attendance regarding what solutions can be worked out to improve the situation at Parade grounds by Crooke Avenue given 3 murders in 2 years, same spot. Even more, he would not comment on very concrete suggestions like supporting improved lighting and police cameras. Here is a somewhat poor quality recording, you kind of have to hear it to believe it. Eugene response.   Here is the rest of the meeting 70 March 2011 Report, again, I'm sorry about the poor quality, but it has the transit officer (4 min in), and the full DI Monteforte report (10 min in) - you may want to listen to it in full as he goes over the serious crimes in detail.

DI Monteforte addressed the situation by the Parade grounds, saying they have met with the Parks department, and the bollards will be removed allowing police vehicles to drive through the park (WHAT on earth is the Parks Police for?!), there are promises of better lighting installed by the picnic tables, and that he's assigning one more officer to that area for the year. He also said that they have requested police cameras to be installed by Crooke and Parade Place. Lastly - he claimed responsibility for residents being exposed to the aftermath of the crime scene, and apologized to all.

He then went on over crime stats:
Murders - 3 this year (2 last year to date)
Rapes - 5 (5)
Robberies - 79 (94)
Fel. Assault - 85 (88)
Burglary - 74 (59) - an increase in commercial burglaries along the main strips
Grand Larceny - 142 (125) - Car break ins, over $1000 in belongings or credit card taken. Quite a few along E18th street, Newkirk, Foster.
Shootings - 5 (30) - 3 non fatal, 2 fatal. 1 closed. Help needed on this one below:
;

On Friday March 18th 2011 at approx 5:35AM, police responded to a 911 call of shots fired in front of 884 East 15th Street (just off of Avenue I) in the confines of the 70 Pct. Upon arrival police observed a 43-year-old white male with a gunshot wound to the head. The victim was taken to Kings County Hospital where he died on Sunday, March 27th 2011. He has been identified as David Apelewicz A”H, of 1916 Ave K Brooklyn.

Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating three males wanted for questioning in regards to the above incident - see attached video (captured before the crime).

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto Crime Stoppers’ website at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com or by texting their tips to CRIMES (274637), then enter TIP577.
All calls are strictly confidential.
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