QUEENS — A new community policing program, which seeks to improve communication between the NYPD and residents, started this week in South Jamaica.
On Monday, the 113th Precinct, which also covers portions of St. Albans, Hollis, Springfield Gardens and Addisleigh Park, assigned 12 officers to work every day in the same geographic locations to help them get to know neighbors and their every day problems.
The precinct has been divided into four neighborhood sectors. Two policemen — known as neighborhood coordination officers — have been assigned to each of the sectors and will stay there for their entire shift.
A pair of additional officers has also been assigned to the Baisley Park Houses and two more to Rochdale Village, according to the 113th Precinct.
During their shift, the officers will spend a third of their time away from responding to 911 calls. Instead, they will visit local businesses, attend community meetings and spend time bonding with local residents.
“These neighborhood officers...will get to know the people, they will get to know the community and they will get to know the issues that specifically need to be addressed,” said Deputy Inspector Frederick Grover, commanding officer of the 113th Precinct. “They are going to really form that connection with the community.”
The program was launched earlier this year in northern Manhattan, in the 33rd and 34th precincts, and in the Rockaways, in the 100th and 101st precincts.
The initiative has been working well and the NYPD has been getting positive feedback, police officials said.
"We are hoping to see some great results from it," Grover said about the program.
