Sunset Park Ready For ‘National Night Out’ Against Crime

Since 1984, National Night Out, an event started by community members to call attention for better policing in neighborhoods, has evolved over the decades as a celebration of police-community relations that has helped reduce crime statistics in the U.S.

On Tuesday, August 2, the 72nd Precinct and Councilmember Carlos Menchaca are teaming up with Street Soccer USA to sponsor  ‘National Night Out’ against crime on the soccer field in Sunset Park located on 44^th Street between 5^th and 6^th Avenues from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The event will feature an evening worth of entertainment, food, a basketball tournament for kids, soccer games, a bounce house, and information about services for the Sunset Park community.

“This annual event helps promote better police-community partnerships and neighborhood collaboration to make our community safer, healthier, and more welcoming,” Menchaca said in a statement.

We reported on Brooklyn’s overall 7.3 percent crime dip, a record low for the borough, compared to last year. But at the 72nd Precinct, which covers Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace, South Slope, and Green-Wood, major crimes have gone up almost 20 percent within the year. Below are the 72nd Precinct statistics for the first half of 2016:

• The NYPD recorded 14 rape incidents, up from nine last year
• 90 recorded robberies, up 83 from last year
• 146 recorded felony assaults, up 111 last year
• 65 recorded burglaries, down from 94 last year
• 246 recorded grand larcenies, up from 178 last year
• 59 recorded grand larceny auto thefts, up from 50 last year

The 72nd Precinct 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.