Crash Response Times, Car Break-Ins, And More From The 66th Precinct Council Meeting

It was the last 66th Precinct Community Council meeting for the season, held Thursday June 20 at Community Board 12’s offices on 13th Avenue and 59th Street, and the Commander’s mood was mellow.

The Cop of the Month award went to Officer Joshua Hull, pictured above on the left (Deputy Inspector Michael Deddo, center, and Community Council president Mark Katz). In investigating the shooting of a 37-year-old drug dealer on 20th Avenue, the first of the year, Hull’s search warrant yielded a 9mm gun, $1,200, and a pound of marijuana.

Additionally, newly retired Community Affairs Detective Vincent “Vinnie” Galeno (pictured to the right in a file photo) had ducked out of this, his last official Council meeting after 30 years in the NYPD, all spent at the 66th Precinct.

“He was a class act,” Deputy Inspector Deddo said, praising him to the 40-member audience. But “not a big fanfare guy.”

Earlier that day, the top brass had attended a Patrol Boro Brooklyn South Comp Stat meeting where, Commander Deddo said, “We did very well.”

The precinct’s crimes were down — 5.8 % in the year-to-date figures compared to last year’s, and its response time was more than two minutes faster the citywide average for May. Citywide, it’s 8.56 minutes; Patrol Boro Brooklyn South is 9.2 minutes; and the 66th Precinct is 6.49 minutes.

Moreover, DI Deddo reported, things at the 66th have been going very smoothly:

• No fatalities Memorial Day weekend.

• School crime was under control, and thanks to Sgt. Andreano, the 66th’s point person for school safety, kids got home safely too.

• The second Bangladeshi Mela drew 12,000 people to McDonald Ave to shop, eat, mingle, and applaud a singer who flew all the way from Bangladesh to perform.

CAR BREAK-INS: On the other hand, the car break-ins keep on coming. “Car breakers don’t target any one neighborhood,” said DI Deddo. “It’s the drug habit that drives the crime.”

As at earlier meetings, he advised people not to leave personal property, like a pocket book or even an empty bag, on a car’s back seat or in a car overnight. It “can get you a broken window,” he said. “Call 911, if you see anything.“

TRAFFIC COLLISIONS: When asked about traffic collisions, Commander Deddo said those in the 66th are down 2% for the year. The precinct plans on “exploring how many pedestrian accidents are caused by ‘distracted walking'” (i.e., pedestrians walking, talking and texting on their phones). This behavior, recent studies show, has increased accidents among people under 25. The 66th also issued 48 summons for bike infractions in May.

As a result of the Saving Lives Through Better Information Act, passed by the NYC Council in February 2011, the NYPD now releases monthly Crash Stats for traffic collisions broken down by precinct and intersection — see pages 66-89 for May 2013 collision data in the 66 Precinct. In addition, precincts also issue a monthly report of summons for moving violations.

NEIGHBORS’ CONCERNS: Two women questioned DI Deddo on how the police operate. The first woman was in a car accident at Coney Island and Ditmas Avenues. She wanted to know why it took five hours before the police answered her call.

Neither she or her friend were injured, she said. She initially flagged down a cop from the 70th Precinct to report the accident, but he told her it wasn’t his sector and drove on. Innumerable calls to 911 produced no results. Five hours later, around 10:30pm, a 70th Precinct squad car came by. The cop said her call just appeared on his scanner, and he alerted the 66th Precinct about her accident.

“We are all the police,” Deddo said. “The 66 and the 70 hear the same phone calls.”

He explained that an accident with no injuries is not a priority. He promised to investigate further at both the 66th and 70th Precincts and report back. (The woman and a friend also appeared at the 70th Precinct Community Council meeting in June to complain about their treatment, where the Inspector there also said he would look into it.)

The bounce, bounce, bounce of late-night basketball playing at the Albemarle Playground at Dahill Road and 12th Avenue drove the second woman’s appearance at the meeting. She lives across the street from the playground.

“Sometimes basketball games go on as late as 3am,” she complained. “And none of the other playgrounds are open at 11pm.”

While it’s not a perfect system, DI Deddo said that NYC Parks will work with block associations to close a park at night, and the police will work with the neighbors and the ball players to get their cooperation.

“We’re not looking to write summons or arrest them,” he elaborated.

KEEP IN TOUCH: “Should you have a problem, don’t wait until the next 66th Community Council meeting in September to let us know,” DI Deddo said in closing. Except for a week off, the commander will be on the job all summer.

To contact the 66th Precinct: 718-851-5611. To speak to a person, press 0 for the operator, who can be quite helpful.
To contact 66th Precinct Community Affairs: 718-851-5601

Meanwhile he encouraged everyone to come to the 30th annual National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 6 at Gravesend Park, located at 18th Avenue between 55th and 58th Streets, a good event at which to schmooze local politicians and talk to 66th Precinct brass.

The next 66th precinct Community Council meeting will take place 7:30pm Thursday, September 19 at the CB 12 headquarters.