Captain Jamiel Altaheri, who just joined the 20th precinct, after helping a sick man at the last year’s New Year’s festivities. Photo via twitter.
By Jessica Brockington
The upcoming week is a busy one in the 20th Precinct. The annual Thanksgiving Day Parade will start at 77th and CPW at 9:00 am on Thursday. The inflating of the giant balloons starts the day before, and Winter’s Eve, happens on Monday at Lincoln Square.
The November Precinct meeting started with a welcome to the Precinct’s new Executive Officer, Captain Jamiel Altaheri. The “XO” as the Executive Officer is known, serves in a highly visible role as right hand to the Commanding Officer, Captain Michael Falcon.
Captain Altaheri was commended recently by Commissioner Bratton on his promotion from Lieutenant. On November 3, Commissioner tweeted “Captain Jamiel Altaheri – the real NYPD!”
Bratton reminded the city that on New Year’s Eve last year, Captain Altaheri had stepped out of his deployment during a coffee break at Times Square last year and helped a dying man and his wife see the ball drop – a bucket list item for the man.
The couple, Roger and Diana Higgenbottom had traveled from Wisconsin for the event and due to the man’s illness, were not able to get into the jammed sidewalk minutes before midnight. Captain Altaheri’s act of kindness began a friendship with the couple.
Addressing the Precinct Community Council for the first time, Captain Altaheri said he was “grateful, and happy to be in the 20th Precinct, to serve you to the best of my abilities.” He said he had learned a lot from Captain Falcon, and looked forward to learning more from the community.
Crime
Assailants are still at large in the robbery of a 19 year old male on November 6 at 323 West 74th Street. Two men wearing hoodies approached and began pummeling the victim at approximately 1:30 pm, according to witnesses. When police arrived at 2:10 pm the assailants had escaped with the victim’s backpack containing an iPhone 6s and approximately $22.
Captain Falcon was asked why the police had taken almost 40 minutes to respond to scene. He indicated that the first call to 911 was received at 2:07 pm and the police arrived a scant 3 minutes later.
One witness to the incident was present at the meeting and said she had called the precinct directly because she believed witnesses at the Schwab House across the street had already called 911.
The CO reminded everyone to call 911 in cases of emergency since that is the only way police can be dispatched from the precinct.
The witness informed us that she’s been assured the victim is okay, after having been treated an dreleased from the hospital that day.
Operation E-bike
As part of an ongoing effort to reduce the number of electric bicycles on the streets, the precinct wrote 12 summonses. The bikes are not illegal to possess, but they are illegal to drive. The summonses carry a stiff $500 fine.
Only 12 summonses for electric bikes? I’ve seen at least that many this fall. Better step it up, NYPD.
I probably saw 12 just tonight. Many of these delivery guys on e-bikes ride extremely recklessly throughout the neighborhood.
How can e-bikes be legal to possess and illegal to drive? Buy one and keep it in the closet?? What is the problem with e-bikes? What makes them worse the regular bikes??? They are nice and pleasant to ride. Everyone needs to be cautious, including pedestrians.
I believe e-bikes are legal to ride on streets in NY State in municipalities with population under 500,000
E-bikes are illegal in NYS because they are motorized vehicles that cannot be registered with the DMV. They should be set up to be registered with the DMV as electric mopeds, and licensed as such.
They are hard for the NYPD to ticket and confiscate because the police need to witness the rider travelling under electric power and not pedaling. Then, they have to be able to catch them. Not as easy as it seems.
E-Bikes are not “street legal” – you can ride them on private property (so obviously there is very little in NYC that would qualify). Unlike cars and motorcycles they don’t require a license. Do you begin to see why this might be a problem? I wish that instead of cracking down on the delivery guys, who are pretty easy targets, NYPD would be out in here in summertime when there are kids who ride them incessantly and noisily around and around the block, often against traffic, up on the sidewalk, etc.
Anything on traffic enforcement priorities regarding speeding? Red light running? Failure to yield? These are practically unenforced on drivers in the UWS.
“…began pummeling the victim at approximately 1:30 pm, according to witnesses. When police arrived at 2:10 pm…” Wait a minute, it took the police FORTY MINUTES to get there!?!?!?!
“Captain Falcon was asked why the police had taken almost 40 minutes to respond to scene. He indicated that the first call to 911 was received at 2:07 pm and the police arrived a scant 3 minutes later.
One witness to the incident was present at the meeting and said she had called the precinct directly because she believed witnesses at the Schwab House across the street had already called 911.
The CO reminded everyone to call 911 in cases of emergency since that is the only way police can be dispatched from the precinct.”
I was attacked, police say “harassed” by a homeless woman on rsd 95/97 , 8.30 am.
They never arrived. 24th st precinct were rude, unhelpful & impatient. Being kicked in the back, hair pulled is “harassement ” not an “assault ” according to nypd.
It was a very discouraging experience. Always gave police benefit of doubt. Tough job. Not any more.
On the subject of traffic … I have seen two cars drive the wrong way down W. 92nd Street this week (turning from Broadway, heading toward West End). The first was on Monday and looked like a simple mistake. The second was today. The car took the turn very quickly and then went fishtailing down W. 92nd, with a police car following a couple of second later in pursuit.
One blew through a red light Wednesday at 5:40 pm at west96th and CPW and almost took out 4 pedestrians.