By Daniel Katzive
Officers from the 24th Precinct were able to make an arrest in a daytime robbery which occurred on Broadway when a suspect attacked a woman after she refused a request for money. Deputy Inspector Naoki Yaguchi, Commanding Officer of the 24th Precinct, told the Precinct’s monthly Community Council Meeting that the arrested suspect had a previous recent arrest for grabbing cash from a customer in a store, but had been released following that earlier incident.
Community attendees at the meeting, including one local store owner whose shop had experienced a cash grab from a customer, voiced frustration about incidents like this where perpetrators of non-bail eligible offenses subsequently go on to commit more serious crimes. A representative from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office present at the meeting promised to bring an Assistant District Attorney to a future meeting to help explain the process of charging suspects and the constraints involved.
In other robbery news, Inspector Yaguchi told the meeting that the precinct’s Public Safety Team had made an arrest in a robbery that occurred earlier this week at 97th and Riverside Drive, and that the suspect is believed to have also been involved in two robberies which occurred Sunday night on 104th and 110th Street and Central Park West.
Officers in the 2-4 are also keeping an eye on fruit stands after five stands were hit by robberies on the West Side in recent days. The robberies occurred in the neighboring 20th Precinct, but one was on 86th Street, right on the boundary with the 24th and officers are on alert for more incidents.
Concerns about dangerous driving and traffic infractions were noted, particularly around 96th Street and Broadway. Captain Lazarus, the precinct Executive Officer, indicated enforcement on 96th Street could be stepped up in response to community concerns.
Inspector Yaguchi also introduced seven new police officers who recently joined the precinct fresh out of the academy and who received a warm welcome from the attendees. A new sergeant in charge of the Neighborhood Coordination Officer program was also introduced. Sergeant Timothy Sprague, who now heads up the team of six officers covering the precinct’s three sectors, was previously a member of the elite Emergency Services Unit.
The next monthly meeting of the Precinct Community Council will be held on May 18th at 7pm at the NYPL branch at 150 West 100th Street, directly across the street from the precinct.
I do not have a huge issue with a first time offender who committed a non-violent crime not receiving a big punishment. However, when being sentenced for the second crime, the fact that they were found guilty of a prior crime should factor into sentencing, rather than it again being treated like a first offense.
The catch and release philosophy of sentencing, especially for repeat offenders, is highly problematic.
“incidents like this where perpetrators of non-bail eligible offenses subsequently go on to commit more serious crimes”
They’re not perpetrators until they’re convicted. Traditionally we’re supposed to give people trials before imprisoning them. When did that become such a problem?
When did imposing bail become a problem? The bail reform bill that was enacted in Albany and now has been “tweaked” is a disaster.
Yes innocent tell proven guilty, but when the guy is well known in the area for various previous incidents, and was caught on camara committing his crimes and was arrested during the commission of said crime
Everyone responding here is doing so based on the assumption they were found guilty. We all believe in the rule of law. Your whataboutism is not advancing the conversation but rather is distracting from a major public safety issue.
Those who are more concerned with the rights of those found guilty of crimes (see what I did there?) than law abiding citizens are making this city more dangerous and handing elections to Republicans. They deserve their due process rights and to be treated humanely in prison but we deserve to safely walk the streets.
96th and Broadway is dangerous and busy but the 24 allows food and fruit trucks and their vans to park with impunity in the Zebra striping and no standing areas on the North West corner of 96th and Broadway. This not only blocks traffic leading to dangerous aggressive driving but it also blocks the vision of SB cars making a right-hand turn onto WB 96th. Improving visibility for these vehicles is the purpose of that zebra striping. Dozens of calls to 311 and reports to the 311 website along with attached photographs results in the 24 supposedly investigating and finding no issue. They just lie to clear the report. It is shameful.
I’ve assumed that 96th and Broadway is the worst intersection on the upper west side, with 96th and West End Ave being the second worst.
It’s Exhibit A that the police aren’t really here to enforce the law.
There is one blown light every 2 minutes during the day there. (Yes I’ve counted.)
Description, please?
Do you even ASK the police for a physical descripton, WSR? If not, and I suspect not, you are perpetuating the problem.
Ask the police to provide a physical description. Press the issue. If they decline, find out why.
It is not enough to simply say that WSR is regurgitating the insufficient information provided by the NYPD.
This is an issue worthy of public discusion, unless WSR is implying that we all know the reason already. (And we do.)
Why do you feel entitled to demand something from the WSR? Are you paying for the blog? Are you employing the WSR? If you all so hell bent on finding information to feed your apparent racial bias, do it your own damn self.
@ Description Please…
What in the world is your point? What are you trying to say?
Why don’t YOU ask the NYPD if you’re so curious?
Besides, it sounds like the police have already made arrests, so what good would it do for you to know what these suspects look like? If they’re both six-foot-tall white guys, are you going to call 911 every time you see someone on the street who matches that description?
UWS needs more cops. Are cops transferred from “low crime” precincts to man precincts with higher crime numbers? Remember, cops work 3 shifts. Many work in special units. How many are on actual street patrol during any given shift? Very few. Under the fool de Blasio, there were thousands of retirements is senior, experienced officers. Under Mario Cuomo and Dinkins, thousands of cops were added to the force. Adams and Hochul have not done the same.
Bring back the Guardian Angels.
Didn’t you see them on 79th Street and Broadway during the Lucerne hysteria. What a joke.
#Sliwa2024
Ummm, what do we pay the NYPD for??
They are the largest and highest paid police force in the country. Period. 40,000 cops.
Since 9/11 they are better funded and equipped than most nation’s militaries.
Now if they could get off their phones and walk a beat AND DO THEIR JOBS, that would be great. Thanks.
The NYPD had $1 billion cut from its budget. What did everyone expect would happen? The Plainclothes anti crime unit was disbanded. Misdemeanors are no longer prosecuted along with prostitution, fare beating, shoplifting, among others. Traffic enforcement kid unseen given all these cuts. Couple all this with liberal elected DAs and no bail. There’s something to be said about the former police policies of “Broken Windows” — for those who are either old enough or long term NYC residents who remember when things were once really good here — or safer at least.
The NYPD did not have $1 billion cut from its budget. In fact, the NYPD’s budget is larger now than it was before the George Floyd protests.
FY20 Operating Budget: $5.2 billion
FY21 Operating Budget: $4.9 billion
FY22 Operating Budget: $5.3 billion
FY23 Operating Budget (Prelim.): $5.4 billion
Highest paid??!!?? Not on your life
States like Fl pay more, Nassau County pays more, NJ or NY state pay more, and on and on
Starting salary is $42,000 before taxes, after
taxes that leave you about $28,000 or so.
And they are still willing to step up and protect us
here is a little bit more information on all that:
Starting salary: $42,500
Salary after 5 ½ years: $85,292.
Including holiday pay, longevity pay, uniform allowance, night differential and overtime, police officers may potentially earn over $100,000 per year.
Additional Benefits
27 Paid vacation days after 5 years of service
Unlimited sick leave with full pay
Selection of medical benefit packages
Prescription, dental, and vision coverage
Annuity fund
Deferred Compensation Plan, 401K and I.R.A.
Optional retirement at one half salary after 22 years of service
Annual $12,000 Variable Supplement Fund (upon retirement)
Excellent promotional opportunities
And, these robbery suspects are back out on the streets now?
Born and raised on the same UWS Block since the 1960s , , , the only way to deter crime is by supporting and respecting the NYPD. Generations of today have no respect for their own parents or teachers, never mind Officers of the Law. I say bring back the night stick! Back in the day, when we got out of line, the first tap of that wood on the sidewalk was a warning to behave; the second tap on the sidewalk was your last warning . . . the Third tap was not on the sidewalk! My UWS neighbors voted for a DA that wants to treat criminals with a slap on the hand, and now those same voters complain??? PS: there is no such thing as a small or big crime. A crime is a crime.
There was a very welcomed traffic control officer on 96th and Broadway today as well as a parked police car on the northwest side of Broadway and 96th. The entire area felt safer.
Sincere thanks to all the precincts and officers who are doing their best to keep the UWS safe and violence free…I know it is tough going doing your job these days…but as a long time resident know we truly appreciate your efforts!!!! Also please be more vocal on how we can better support you and change the “no bail” reform laws. I am a firm believer in “3 strikes and you are out”!
Please use Vemo to pay the fruit stands (if they accept). The less cash on hand they have the less they lose and eventually they won’t be as much of a target.
Clearly does not address the underlying issue, but it’s something.
Why do you assume that you know what payment system is best for a fruit stand? I would think that most of these vendors want cash because they more than likely underreport their income. Venmo payments can be tracked and reported to tax authorities.
Why does the District Attorney send a representative who can’t explain the policies of the District Attorney. Does this person actually get paid?
“ A representative from the Manhattan District Attorney’s office present at the meeting promised to bring an Assistant District Attorney to a future meeting to help explain the process of charging suspects and the constraints involved.”
Constraints?! Sure sounds like someone bent on making excuses rather than focused on doing their job.
No wonder thieves aren’t deterred. Much of this should be straightforward – if you do x, then y occurs. Period.
That’s how my life operates. Why not everyone’s? It’s not complex concept.
I also understand the basic legal premise of communicate before you implement. I doubt there is ANYONE in this City who doesn’t understand that robbing or assaulting is illegal.
And expecting police to be parent, guardian, and therapist is just ridiculous. Let them do their jobs, and let other disciplines do theirs, without conflating them. I’m not saying don’t provide certain disciplines….. just don’t conflate them.
“And expecting police to be parent, guardian, and therapist is just ridiculous. Let them do their jobs, and let other disciplines do theirs, without conflating them.”
So what you are saying is that you firmly support “Defund the Police”! Because that is essentially what that horribly-named program is all about.
Though there is much to debate about the quality of police work in NYC over the past two years, perhaps we can resolve an issue here and now, and so never have to hear it commented upon again:
Do the police actually receive their orders/instructions from their commanders via their cell phones, which would explain why they are “always” looking at them?
And, if they do receive their orders via their cellphones, are they also receiving continuous private, personal texts when they are on duty, which would seem a dereliction?
If anyone knows these answers for certain, would you kindly comment?
to sarah: perpetrators being let go to commit more crimes will become a problem when you are robbed