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Cops Beef Up Patrols in Forest Park After Stun Gun Sex Attack

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | April 10, 2013 3:53pm

QUEENS — Cops have beefed up their patrols of Forest Park after a recent frightening stun gun sex attack there last month.

The move came as Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley called for the Parks Department to increase the number of its security officers there.

At a Community Board 9 meeting Tuesday, cops said that security in the park has been temporarily beefed up following the sex attack.

Police forces assigned to protect the area include both horse patrols and plainclothes officers, a police official said.

The frightening attack occurred on March 29 about 7:25 p.m. when the 23-year-old victim was out for a run inside the park. The suspect grabbed her from behind, shocked her with a stun gun and sexually assaulted her, cops said.

Police arrested a suspect four days later but cops later admitted they had the wrong man. The stun gun suspect is still on the loose.

Crowley, who represents Ridgewood, Middle Village, Glendale and Woodhaven, said Wednesday her goal is to get more Parks Enforcement Patrol officers to the park, because there are too few patrolling the 550-acre area.

According to published reports, there is only one Parks Department Patrol officer in all of Queens but the city is planning to hire about 80 new officers soon.

Crowley is also exploring the cost of installing more cameras and improving lighting along the trails.

"We need to be assured that every inch of Forest Park is safe,” Crowley said in a statement. “I have spoken with the Parks Department and the 102nd Precinct about safety concerns in the park, and will continue working with them to increase patrols and improve safety conditions in the area."

The Parks Department did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.