QUEENS — A new community policing program which assigns officers to specific areas within a neighborhood to develop relationships with residents is set to launch in Jamaica this October, local police officials said.
The initiative is the latest in a series of steps the NYPD has taken to improve its relationship with local communities.
“The department is refocusing its efforts on building the bridges back with the community because crime is at the level that we can do this now,” said Inspector John Cappelmann, commanding officer of the 103rd Precinct, at a precinct council meeting Tuesday night.
"I think the program is going to be great for our precinct," he added.
Under the initiative, 10 “neighborhood coordination officers,” or NCOs, will be trained and assigned to four newly created patrol sectors in the 103rd Precinct, which includes Jamaica, Hollis and Lakewood, where they will work all their shifts.
“You are going to get to know these officers because they are going to be there and their job will be to solve issues, whether it be public drinking in Rufus King Park or prostitution issue on South Road or Sutphin [Boulevard],” Cappelmann said.
The NCOs will also spend about a third of their time concentrating on community issues rather than responding to 911 calls, police officials said.
“They will be attending meetings, they will be dealing with businesses, they will be dealing with resident groups and block watchers, they will be out there every day … solving problems,” Cappelmann added.
In addition to getting new NCOs, the precinct will assign about 40 officers to patrol cars who will also return to the same areas every shift, Cappelmann said.
The initiative is scheduled to begin in the 103rd Precinct on Oct. 3, police officials said. Some of the NCOs will be introduced to the community at the next 103rd Precinct community council meeting, scheduled for Oct. 11, police officials said.
The program launched last year in the 33rd and 34th precincts in northern Manhattan, and in the 100th and 101st precincts in the Rockaways.
It was later expanded to several other neighborhoods, including the 113th Precinct in South Jamaica, where it was introduced last September.
