WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Police in Washington Heights announced that they are ramping up security within a 24-square-block section of the neighborhood to address a recent rise in crime.
The effort, which will focus on the area between West 181st and 193rd streets, from St. Nicholas to Amsterdam avenues, will place 50 Impact Response Team officers on the ground, in addition to the usual patrols beginning this week, police from the 34th Precinct said.
The precinct said it hopes the temporary increase in officers will “decrease crime, enhance the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and work in partnership with the community to make it a safer and peaceful neighborhood.”
However, some residents insisted that similar efforts have failed to yield lasting benefits in the past.
"They do this every year," complained Charlie Grammatas, 55, who has owned Charlie's Pizza on St. Nicholas Avenue, between West 185th and 186th streets, for the past 17 years. "The police come, it stops for a while, but then they're gone and it starts right back up again.
"It's not enough," the store owner added. "It should be year-round."
An employee at another business nearby also took issue with the police increase, but for different reasons.
“Police presence is intimidating to us — it just represents harassment,” said Tito, 32, who works at the Allstar Barber Shop on St. Nicholas Avenue and declined to give his last name.
While he agreed that the effort might reduce crime in public areas, he argued that it also hurts businesses by discouraging people from hanging out near local shops.
He also suggested that the NYPD’s effort might be better used creating ways to engage youth in the community.
“We don’t need more police out here — we need more activities for kids,” Tito said. “Where are the kids supposed to go?”
