Community Leaders to Meet with Inwood Residents to Discuss Public Safety

The commanding officer in the 34th Precinct was recently stripped of his post because of climbing crime rates

Flickr/Jag9889

INWOOD — Community leaders plan to hold a public safety meeting with residents Wednesday night just days after the commanding officer of the 34th Precinct was stripped from his post because of climbing crime rates.

City Councilman Robert Jackson and Assemblyman Guillermo Linares announced the meeting Sunday evening, inviting residents to voice their growing concerns.

“Community engagement is very, very important and people must know what their appointed and elected officials are doing about public safety,” according to Jackson.

The meeting will be co-sponsored by State Sen. Adriano Espaillat, Assemblyman Denny Farrell, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez and Borough President Scott Stringer.

No details regarding the agenda for the meeting were immediately available, but a notice about the meeting stated Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, District Attorney Cy Vance, and the 34^th Precinct’s new commanding officer Deputy Inspector Barry Buzzetti have been invited to attend.

The focus on crime in the area was ratched up several levels after a woman was allegedly raped by an off-duty police officer behind a residential home in Inwood Friday.

CompStat figures show nearly all crime is up 22.95 percent overall this year to date in the 34th Precinct as compared to last year.

To date, robberies are up 5.7 percent with 166 incidents reported versus 157 in 2010; burglaries are up 66.7 percent with 165 incidents versus 99 in 2010; grand larceny is up 17.5 percent with 235 incidents versus 200 in 2010; and auto theft is up 31.2 percent with 63 incidents reported this year versus 48 in 2010.

Murder is also up 250 percent with seven incidents versus two in 2010; rape is up 27.3 percent with 14 incidents compared to 11 in 2010; and felony assault is up 11.7 percent with 143 incidents versus 128.

The Wednesday, August 24, public safety meeting will be held at the Northeastern Academy School, 532 W. 215th Street, one block west of Broadway, at 6:30 p.m.

 

Slideshow

NYPD officer Michael Pena sits at the defense table in Manhattan Supreme Court during his indictment arraignment, Sept. 21, 2011.

Marc Hermann

NYPD officer Michael Pena was arraigned on indictment charges of rape in Manhattan Supreme Court, Sept. 21, 2011.

Marc Hermann

NYPD officer Michael Pena is accused of raping a school teacher on her way to work.

Marc Hermann

Officer Michael Pena appears in Manhattan Criminal Court on Aug. 20, 2011 for his arraignment on charges of raping a teacher in Inwood the day before.

Pool/Paul Lomax

Pena said the District Attorney's office is coming down hard on him so that they may "make an example" out of him.

Pool/Paul Lomax

Pena (in white suit) is being held on held on $500,000 cash bail or $1 million bond.

DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg

Pena appears in Manhattan Criminal Court on Aug. 20, 2011.

Pool/Paul Lomax

Police investigated the scene where a police officer is accused of raping a school teacher on Park Terrace West on Aug. 19, 2011.

DNAinfo/Bruce Katz

Police investigate the crime scene where a police officer is accused of raping a woman behind a row of homes on Park Terrace West Aug. 19, 2011.

DNAinfo/Bruce Katz

Officer Michael Pena (in white suit) was led out of the 34th Precinct on August 19, 2011.

DNAinfo/Ben Fractenberg

Michael Pena is led from Manhattan Supreme Court following his indictment arraignment on charges he raped a woman in Inwood, Sept. 21, 2011.

Marc Hermann

NYPD officer Michael Pena pleaded not guilty to indictment rape charges at his indictment arraignment, Sept. 21, 2011.

Marc Hermann

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NYPD officer Michael Pena sits at the defense table in Manhattan Supreme Court during his indictment arraignment, Sept. 21, 2011.

Photo Credit: Marc Hermann

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