THE BRONX — Shootings and murders are down in the precincts where the city launched an anti-crime initiative aimed at slowing a troubling spike in violent crimes, Police Commissioner William Bratton and Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday.
The city launched "Summer All Out," which placed 330 officers who were on administrative duty on patrol in 10 precincts and four public housing service areas where shootings and homicides were seeing sharp increases, last month — a month earlier than last year.
At the start of the initiative on June 8, homicides were up 18 percent and shootings had increased by 5 percent for the year across the city.
In the 10 targeted precincts, shootings have dropped 29 percent to 39 from 55 this time last year. Murders have dropped to 9 from 14 this time last year.
"I will remind you that some weeks ago people were very concerned about the direction things were going in," de Blasio said. "I believed in my heart the NYPD had the situation under control, had dealt with adversity before, and had overcome it."
The announcement came at Cardinal Spellman High School, which is located in the 47th Precinct. The precinct has seen a 70 percent drop in shootings to three from 10 this time last year.
"We are getting the help and we are putting the help to good use," said Inspector Ruel Stephenson, commanding officer of the 47th Precinct.
Elizabeth Gill, head of the 47th Precinct Community Council, said they organized a dinner to welcome the temporary officers.
"The difference is, they feel that the community wants them here," Gill said. "There is so much negativity out about police and community, and we wanted them to know that this community welcomed them."
Murders and shootings are still up citywide compared to this time last year, data show.
Murders are up 10 percent through July 5 with 168 this year compared to 153 last year this time, according to the most recent statistics from the NYPD. Shootings are also up 4 percent to 566 from 546 this time last year.
The city is also struggling with an increase in rapes, said Deputy Commissioner Dermot Shea.
There's been a 6 percent increase in total rapes, or an additional 44 rapes compared to this time last year, including 22 rapes in the last month.
Almost all of the rapes, 90 percent, involve an acquaintance of the victim.
The city has, however, also seen 10 more stranger rapes this year compared to this time last year, such as the recent attack on an 82-year-old woman in Brooklyn.
Shea said the NYPD has been working with hospitals and schools to increase reporting of rapes and that could factor in to the increase.
"I’m of the opinion, being quite frank with you, not that we’re experiencing more, but that it’s being reported more," Bratton said.
