Following a rash of violent crimes, the 60th Precinct covering Coney Island and Brighton Beach has quietly instituted an ‘Impact Zone.’
An impact zone is an area of a precinct which has experienced an upsurge in crime and where extra cops flood the area.
In the 60th Precinct, that neighborhood is along Mermaid Avenue between West 24th and West 36th Streets.
The impact zone was instituted last month following a string of murders, shootings and other violent incidents in this area, police sources said.
Police said there is a lot of questionable activity in this area, including livery cabs moving around at all hours, narcotics sales and people hanging out.
Many of these people have guns, but are able to put them away in a safe place with easy access when they want them, said police.
Police said 32 officers, three sergeants and one lieutenant have been moved into the precinct to patrol the impact zone.
Among the shootings was one incident where two individuals were shot on April 26 at 3028 West 29th Street.
For the year there have been nine shootings compared to three at this time last year, including 12 victims compared to three at this time in 2008.
At the same time, gun arrests are down for the year with 10 as compared to 16 at this time last year.
Murders are also up with six homicides so far in 2009 as compared to one at this time last year.
Captain Maurice D’Alessabdro, the executive officer of the 60th Precinct, said most of these violent incidents occurred in the impact zone area.
However, major overall felony crime is down 23 percent for the year precinct−wide, according to police statistics.
Of these major crime categories, burglary is down 44 percent with 34 incidents so far in 2009 as compared to 61 at this time last year.
Robbery is down nearly 34 percent with 60 reported incidents so far this year as compared to 104 at this time in 2008.
Felony assaults are down 26 percent with 71 incidents so far in 2009 as compared to 96 at this time last year, and grand larceny is down nearly 16 percent with 144 reported incidents so far in 2009 as compared to 171 at this time last year.
Police did confirm rumors that there are Mexican gangs in Brighton Beach. The confirmation comes after a man was stabbed to death on Brighton 7th Street recently.
Police identified the gangs as the PCS and the Pachitos.
They are not large gangs, but they are out and about, said police, adding that they aren’t drug dealers but do act out at times after getting drunk.