Fewer Car Break-Ins, A Focus On Ocean Parkway Safety & More From The 66th Precinct Community Council Meeting

The 66th Precinct had a busy summer with excellent results, Deputy Inspector Michael Deddo said at fall’s opening Community Council meeting, held Thursday, September 18 at Community Board 12’s Borough Park office. Grand larceny (i.e., credit card theft), is down for the year, Deddo reported, and so are car breaks-ins, significantly so: 45.7% down compared to last year.

It’s annual National Night Out Against Crime fete, held August 5 at PS 105’s schoolyard, was an “outstanding success,” with lots of community support. In Deddo’s view, this summer’s fairs, melas, and celebrations showcased the 66th Precinct’s diversity: “You could travel the world without leaving the 66,” Deddo said with great pleasure.

These included Pakistani and Chinese celebrations, and the Bangladeshi mela (street fair) September 6 on McDonald Avenue. Then, at the

Unity Showcase in Prospect Park on September 16, the Brooklyn Asian Civilian Observation Patrol, the first in the city, was a standout. Formed early this spring at the 72nd Precinct, it is a neighborhood watch group modeled after the Shomrim and endorsed by, and working in, the 66th.

The icing on Deddo’s cake, however, was the golden trophy cup, which a jubilant Deddo held aloft. It honored the third precinct win over the Shomrim, 10 to 7, in the annual softball (Councilmember) David Greenfield Baseball Classic held September 10.

Upcoming This Fall

September 22-October 5: A two-week education and enforcement program, as part of Vision Zero, began Monday, with the precinct setting up temporary headquarters at Ocean Parkway and Church Avenue.

Although collisions at that intersection are down 17% for the year, Traffic Safety Officer Mathew Cronin said, its north corridor is considered one of the precinct’s worst. According to the July NYPD Motor Vehicle Collision Report, 16 crashes took place at the Church/Ocean Parkway intersection.

During the first week, NYPD and DOT teams will be blanketing the area with educational materials, including coloring books, at the Church Avenue F train subway exit, at schools, churches, and senior centers, and they will post new 30 mph speed signs to acquaint pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists with new ways and rules to stay safe. The second week, starting September 29, the cops will be out enforcing the rules, including, Commander Deddo said, ticketing bicyclists riding on the Ocean Parkway pedestrian path (on the east side). There will be another NYPD information tent at Ocean Parkway and Avenue C. Call the Community Affairs office at 718-851–5601 to volunteer.

Since more people are killed in vehicle accidents than with guns or knives, the NYPD and NYC DOT are also going to see whether changes to stop signs, signals, left turns, the speed limit, and the slimming down of actual lanes can cut fatalities. People, it seems, are more likely to slow down when lanes appear narrower.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: Commander Deddo anticipates carefree Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashanah, September 24-26; Yom Kippur, October 3-4) thanks to the precinct’s thorough planning with community leaders, including a close look at possible terrorist activity.

Green Dot MoneyPak Card Scam: The scam continues; stay vigilant! Crime Prevention Officer Michael Riomao (718-851–5620) is back on the beat alerting local store managers so they can shield customers from rip-offs.

NYPD Officer Retraining: Between now and December, Deddo said, all officers in the command will learn how to tactically subdue someone in a safe manner. Added Deddo, when officers move on from the 66th, “They see how much support we’ve had from the public.”

Last year, Commander Deddo enrolled the precinct in the NYPD Explorers Program, open to young people 14-20, and sent one person. This year the precinct assigned Community Affairs Sgt. Michael Andreano to mentor the recruits and sent three: two sisters and their friend. It was another of the precinct’s summer successes. The women who stood before the Community Council audience demonstrated its worth and praised what the program taught them.

Said Explorer Suma Akter, who wholeheartedly endorsed her summer’s experience: “You enjoy your time. You learn to think outside the box and to respect your own self. You discover your skills. And you learn discipline.” Until now she wanted to be a dancer and an actress, but is now considering the Marine Corps as back up.

“You learn leadership,” Commander Deddo said. “And an NYPD reference looks good on your college resumé; you don’t have to become a police officer.”

The Explorers attend two weeks of classes at Fordham University and one week at a Boy Scout camp out of the city, where they learn new skills and continually test themselves in competitive drills. They had some fun, too. During the school year, they’ll do community service and assist the precinct in their free time, including helping out in soup kitchens.

The date for the 66th Precinct Community Council’s October meeting will be changed. For the location and time of the meeting, email 66precinctcc@gmail.com, call 718-851–5601, or check back here for an update later on.