78th Precinct NCO Sector C Build The Block Meeting: Lock Up Your Bikes

PARK SLOPE – Several Park Slope and Prospect Heights neighbors filled the hall at the Sixth Avenue Bible Baptist Church (97 Lincoln Place) Tuesday evening for the 78th Precinct’s quarterly Neighborhood Coordination Officer (NCO) Sector C Build The Block Meeting.

Sector C covers approximately Vanderbilt Avenue to Fifth Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Union Street. The two officers assigned to this area are Officer William Gonzalez and Officer Kareem Abdelaziz. The 78th’s NCO Supervisor, Sergeant Anthony Dimichele, joined the two officers last night to inform locals about recent news in the neighborhood and to listen to attendees’ concerns.

Officer Abdelaziz started with an update on recent crimes in the sector, including a rise in thefts of electronic bikes, mopeds, and Vespas within the past couple of weeks. The thefts have spread as far as the 72nd Precinct (which covers parts of South Slope, Windsor Terrace, and Sunset Park). Officers are investigating the crimes and believe the suspect(s) may be from a neighboring precinct.

At a March NCO Sector A meeting, the 78th Precinct’s Crime Prevention Officer, Brian Ferguson, noted a rise in bicycle thefts in that area. Along with using reliable locks to secure their bikes, locals were informed that they can make an appointment with Officer Ferguson to register their bicycles for easy identification.

Officer Abdelaziz also noted that business owners should speak to their delivery drivers and ensure that they are riding their bikes/e-bikes safely and following traffic laws. He mentioned receiving complaints about a deliveryman for a Flatbush Avenue restaurant riding his e-bike on sidewalks. He spotted the deliveryman traveling on a pedestrian path on two separate occasions. The deliveryman stopped taking the dangerous route after Abdelaziz visited the eatery twice to speak with the business owner and the staff.

For almost 20 minutes attendees discussed the topic of drunk patrons going to and leaving venues at the intersection of Flatbush and 6th Avenues.

Along with complaints about the drunken crowds being rowdy and publicly urinating on nearby streets, there was concern about seeing patrons getting into cars and driving away inebriated.

While Woodland (242 Flatbush Ave.) typically gets the brunt of these complaints, Officer Gonzalez pointed out that the revelers also frequent the neighboring businesses Bleachers (240 Flatbush Ave.) and Sugarcane (238 Flatbush Ave.) as well. He added that while Woodland’s management has been responsive to the precinct and made changes, such as stationing a security guard at the corner of St. Marks & 6th Avenue, he says there isn’t much the businesses can do once the customers have left their premises.

Several neighbors insisted that the officers patrol the area more frequently, particularly on weekends, so that they can catch the drunken parties before they are able to drive away. The officers said if an individual is drunk and so much as starts a car’s ignition from the driver’s seat, he/she will be arrested.

Many agreed that if more enforcement to prevent the drunk driving in the area was happening that word would get out and customers might leave their cars at home and take taxis or car services instead.

Sergeant Dimichele insisted that the NCOs do conduct “ongoing enforcement” but that neighbors need to call the officers immediately when they see this sort of behavior so they can respond. The Sergeant added that any reports filed against these businesses, which many in the community believe may be over-serving customers, will be sent to the State Liquor Authority (SLA) for review.

The SLA scheduled a hearing on April 19, 2018 regarding the renewal of Woodland’s liquor license amid four charges filed against the business from October 1 through November 10, 2017. The hearing was cancelled and the license renewed after Woodland’s owner pleaded “no contest” and paid a $12,000 fine.

NYPD 78th Precinct NCO Sector C:

Officer Kareem Abdelaziz
917.912.1874
Kareem.Abdelaziz@nypd.org

Officer William Gonzalez
917.941.9626
William.Gonzalez4@nypd.org

Sergeant Anthony Dimichele
Anthony.Dimichele@nypd.org
917.834.3498

Crime Prevention Officer Brian Ferguson
brian.ferguson2@nypd.org
718.636.6433

To learn more about the 78th Precinct’s Neighborhood Coordination Officer program click here and to find your Build The Block Meeting click here.