THE KILLING FIELD

Wakefield Area News
By Mary V. Lauro

The news on the crime front is not good. The 47th Precinct has been plastered in several newspapers as being the second highest in the city - repeat- in the city in regard to homicides. That was, according to CompStat, on June 27 marking the first half of 2010. Who knows? With the murder of a man on July 9th on Barnes Avenue near E. 226 Street, the 47th may well be number one.

But, says Commissioner Kelly, fear not. Homicides went up city-wide by 11.1 percent, but that means we are still 76.51 percent less than we were 17 years ago. New York City is still one of, if not, the most safe large cities in the nation. Even so, considering the spike in violent crime, the NYPD will double and triple police presence in 23 precincts during the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when most violent crimes occur.

Does that mean that the 47th Precinct will have more than two patrol cars at night patrolling the endless labyrinth of streets in its 5.2 square miles? Will it have four? Or six? Happy day, my foot. The 47th needs 12 to 15 patrol cars at night if it is to contain its crime. It has been shamefully understaffed for many years. It presents an open field for criminal activity. It had 11 homicides by June 27th this year compared to 5 during the same time period last year. It has 19 rapes compared to 12 last year. Now that's violence.

What about other Bronx precincts? Well, we were the highest in homicides at 11. The 44th with only eight was the second highest. We were the highest in rape at 19. The 44th was closest at 18. We were also first in auto theft with 159 stolen cars. Out closest rival was the 49th at 118. Bronx wise, in robbery we were sixth highest, in felonious assaults we were fourth highest, in burglary also fourth highest. Obviously we excel at nothing. Overall, we are the fourth highest in crime in the Bronx.

It used to be said that police presence could not affect the crime of murder and rape because they occurred behind closed doors. But times have changed. Most homicides are committed in the open. So are rapes. Police presence makes a difference. The spike in crime we are experiencing has a great deal to do with the diminution of the police force partially due to economic circumstances but mainly due to police concentration on the prevention of terror attacks in Manhattan. Mid-Manhattan is where one sees two, three, even six officers standing on a corner.

Some pundits are blaming the rise in crime on the economy. That, we feel, is a gross misinterpretation of fact. During the great depression and into the early 70's, most homes and apartment left their doors, unlocked. We did here in Wakefield. Burglary was almost unknown. It was believed to be a crime reserved for the rich. Stealing food in the supermarkets to feed one's family is not grand larceny. The link between poverty and crime is not due to economics but to other societal causes. We will have more to say on this and other police matters in further columns.