72nd Precinct & Community Unite For Sunset Park’s “National Night Out”
As the city announced its new police commissioner — precincts, politicians, and communities from all boroughs came together for “National Night Out” against crime Tuesday evening.
And in Sunset Park, it was an opportunity for residents to mingle with cops from the 72nd Precinct at Sunset Park’s soccer field (44th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) filled with activities and entertainment sponsored by Street Soccer USA.
“National Night Out is so important for our community because we have to come together as we bring new services and ideas to the table,” said Councilmember Carlos Menchaca, who co-hosted the event. “Programs like IDNYC, legal services, and adult education classes is a result of the community asking for those things.”
Menchaca acknowledged the NYPD’s leadership change — Police Commissioner Bill Bratton will step down from his post in September — and said it brings an opportunity to elevate officers of different ethnicities to higher ranks in the department.
“We can’t have a commissioner whose Latino, African-American or Asian until we bring in more police officers,” Menchaca said. “I’m asking all the kids — when you get old enough to apply to be a police officer and serve your community.”
Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez made an appearance to address Sunset Parkers and law enforcement that strengthening ties is crucial in protecting the community from crime.
“We are stronger when we work with police and police works with us,” Velazquez said. “Sunset Park is stronger and better every year because of the people who put in the work to make sure we come together as a community.”
There were performances throughout the night to represent diversity in the crowd. A Mexican folkloric group performed traditional dances, Chinese dancers showed off their dragon dance moves, and a salsa band had the community swaying their hips side to side. Youths played basketball with cops at the courts and others lined up with their parents for the bounce houses.
72nd Precinct Commanding Officer Emmanuel Gonzalez says what he loves most about Sunset Park is having events like “National Night Out” to embrace diversity by enjoying everyone’s culture in the community.
“I’m so happy to see the kids having a great time,” Gonzalez said. “When I was growing up I never saw this.”
Gonzalez was appointed 72nd Precinct commanding officer earlier this year and is no stranger to Sunset Park. He grew up on 42nd Street and Tenth Avenue and served in the neighboring 66th Precinct in Borough Park, Brooklyn.
He says his focus is to incorporate all Sunset Park residents, including Latino, Asian and Muslim communities to participate community meetings. “We’re going to grow together,” Gonzalez said.
When asked about Commissioner Bratton’s resignation, Gonzalez praised the top cop’s tactics for including technology, advanced training, and community-policing strategies, such as the Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs) program into the force.
Sunset Park’s 72nd Precinct is one of the several precincts participating in the NCO program, where officers are assigned specific patrol sectors to build relationships and trust with residents.
“Commissioner Bratton improved the department immensely,” Gonzalez said. “He brought us into the 21st century and now we have Chief James O’Neill whose going to take us beyond that.”
In July, the NYPD released its crime statistics for the first half of 2016 and we reported on Brooklyn’s overall low crime rate. But at the 72nd Precinct, major crimes have gone up almost 20 percent within the year.
Gonzalez said his precinct is tackling major crime rates by putting more NCOs on the street and what matters most to him is the integrity of police reporting to expose the issues affecting the neighborhood.
“Our felony and assaults are up, but if you look at our analysis we’re reaching out to the community through the NCOs, and we’re using the domestic violence office,” Gonzalez said. “If we reach out more, we’re going to get more reports.”
Note: Click here to view the 72nd Precinct’s crime statistics. The community council is on summer break and will resume Tuesday, September 13 at the Marien Center located at 4520 4th Avenue., at 7:30 p.m.
