March 2019 Is A Record Breaking Month

As the Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council prepares to launch their 8^th annual Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence Campaign with Power 105.1, “The Shark” Daymond John, RCA Records, NYPD’s PSA Unit, C-COP and NYCHA, it is important to know that the city is headed in the right direction as we approach another long hot summer.  Neighborhood Policing has been a huge success thanks to the wisdom and patience of Police Commissioner James O’Neill.  We have come a long way from the days of Stop, Question & Frisk Days and by joining forces with the community we have been able to reduce murders and shootings while improving relations between the Police and community residents.

Recently the NYPD announced that in March 2019 the city experienced the lowest number of reported index crimes of any March in the CompStat era, an achievement that propelled the city to the lowest first-quarter index crime results on record and a new all-time low for any quarter in the modern era.  Crime was down in all of the 7 major categories when compared to 2018.  Rapes increased by +9.5% in the first quarter of 2019, but are down -3.8% for the month of March.  As we work as a team our goal is to reduce the numbers of murders, shootings, and Rapes this year.  That’s not to say that other crimes are not important, but in High Crime Districts those 3 categories are of major concern.

“The day in day out hard work of the men and women of the NYPD across every community continues to drive crime down citywide,” said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill.  “Through Neighborhood Policing, and our strengthened partnerships with the public, community leaders and other city agencies, we will continue to build trust and find solutions to address crime and violence.”

“Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe in their home.  While crime is at a historic low across the city, we are working to make this a reality in every zip code,” ended Commissioner O’Neill.

• A 6.2% reduction in index crime in March 2019 (6,798), compared to March 2018 (7,248). March 2019 is the lowest March in the CompStat era.
• Transit crime down 5.5% in March 2019 (173) compared to March 2018 (183).
• Housing crime down 0.8% in March 2019 (388) compared to March 2018 (391).
• Murders fell 27.3%, rapes fell 3.8%, robberies fell 6.7%, felony assaults fell 0.4%, burglaries fell 17.5%, grand larcenies fell 4.4%, and grand larceny auto fell 18.8% in March 2019 compared to March 2018.

Kicking off the month of March 2019, the NYPD implemented a 5-point plan designed to take aim at precincts experiencing pockets of increased violence.  The plan addressed the uptick by:

1. Increasing personnel in four targeted precincts (34, 43, 79, 113 Precincts)
2. Strengthening gun prosecutions
3. Expanding programs
4. Focusing on gang violence and potential recidivism
5. Focusing on domestic violence investigations

A month later, we have double-digit reductions in overall crime in each of the 4 precincts.  That’s what you call real progress.  While violence has not been fully stamped out, the 43^rd Precinct experienced both zero murders and zero shooting incidents, while the 113^th Precinct recorded zero murders.  That is a major accomplishment, to say the least.  The NYPD will continue to analyze and address obstinate pockets of violence through a combination of the previously mentioned resources.

Additionally, in January, Commissioner O’Neill announced the next iteration of Neighborhood Policing — a plan to focus on six precincts citywide where violent crime outpaced the rest of the city.  These precincts include the 40^th Precinct in the South Bronx, the 41^st Precinct in Hunts Point, the 42^nd Precinct in Tremont, the 73^rd Precinct in Brownsville, the 75^th Precinct in East New York, and the 25^th Precinct in East Harlem.

Commissioner O’Neill and the executive NYPD team are holding targeted community meetings in each of these 6 Precincts to identify strategies and resources to bring crime down in these communities to levels consistent with the rest of the city.  You are invited to these meetings because your input and recommendations will go a long way to improve upon the partnership between the NYPD and local community residents.

“The NYPD has worked incredibly hard to build trust and strengthen relationships in the communities we serve, as we continue to improve accountability and transparency in everything we do,” said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill. 

This year there will be a full rollout of Body-worn cameras, which enhance the safety and accountability of the dedicated men and women of the NYPD while improving their ability to ensure public safety.  This rollout will mark a significant milestone for the NYPD and their commitment to improving public safety and transparency within the NYPD.  Most crimes are solved by the aid of local residents, so creating an atmosphere of trust will definitely bring down crime and make our neighborhoods safer.

For info about our Hip-Hop Against Gun & Gang Violence Campaign and how you can become a “Power Partner 4 Peace” contact us at RandyKFisher@gmail.com.

Written by Charles Fisher and Randy Fisher.