By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER MANHATTAN — A flood of additional police officers will take to the streets of Inwood and Washington Heights beginning Thursday, as the 34th Precinct attempts to get a handle on a recent uptick in crime.
Captain Jose Navarro said 60 more officers would begin increased patrols concentrating on W. 181st Street near St. Nicholas and Audubon avenues.
“I believe I’m happier than you are,” Navarro said of the supplemental force during the 34th Precinct Community Council meeting held Wednesday night at the new P.S. 366 Washington Heights Academy building on Sherman Avenue and W. 204th Street.
Although reported crime in the precinct is down overall this year, police reports that crime spiked 24.75 percent over the 28 days before to Oct. 17. During the week of Oct. 11 to 17, crime skyrocketed more than 150 percent, according to police statistics.
Robberies, felony assaults and grand larceny showed the biggest jumps in the police report and were one of many concerns raised by residents at the meeting, a striking change from the past year’s meetings, which largely dealt with quality of life concerns.
“We will increase patrols,” Navarro said in response to one of many complaints at the meeting. “I know we have a tremendous problem.”
