Call it “Crime Fighting: The Next Generation.”
With their parents in tow, thousands of kids are expected to attend National Night Out Against Crime celebrations throughout the borough on August 4 – and the NYPD couldn’t be happier.
Once considered a bold initiative to “take back the streets” from crooks and drug dealers, National Night Out Against Crime events have morphed into family−friendly fare.
But there’s also the educational element: throughout the night, police will dole out reams of important information about how you can better protect your homes, cars and property. Event attendees will also be encouraged to enroll in special NYPD programs.
This year the programs, which include cell phone and iPod etching, are going to be offered to area youngsters to stem the growing tide of teen−on−teen crime that’s surfaced in the borough.
“Even if we register five phones on National Night Out, that’s five people who will be getting their cell phone back or five people who may not be victimized at all, because their phone isn’t that desirable anymore,” explained Deputy Inspector Corey Pegues, the commanding officer of the 67th Precinct in East Flatbush.
Since the first National Night Out was established back in the early 1980s, residents have gathered to heighten crime and drug awareness, learn about local anti−crime programs and strengthen both neighborhood spirit and the bonds between the community and their NYPD protectors.
While crime in Brooklyn has dropped drastically since the first National Night Out Against Crime (by 78 percent since 1990 for Brooklyn South, 74 percent for Brooklyn North), cops and civilians make it a point to gather together, something that Chief Joseph Fox, the commanding officer of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, is quite happy about.
“[National Night Out Against Crime] began in a time when we had to fight for each and every street,” Fox explained. “While we don’t have to fight for our streets any longer, I still think that this event sends an important message. It demonstrates the partnership between the members of the community and the officers from our local precincts, something we try to work on every single day.”
“These days, National Night Out Against Crime is more about bringing the community together,” added Inspector Frank Cangiarella, the commanding officer of the 63rd Precinct in Mill Basin. “[Night Out] is designed for people who don’t normally interact with the police, to give them the opportunity to know what we do and what’s available to them.”
Every National Night Out Against Crime – there are 26 of them throughout the borough −− is free of charge, explained Matt Peskin, National Project Coordinator for the National Association of Town Watch (NATW), the sponsoring organization of National Night Out events throughout the country.
“There are no financial barriers to participating in National Night Out. That has always been our commitment, but in today’s difficult economy, it’s worth highlighting,” Peskin said. “We know communities and local law enforcement agencies are being asked to justify every expense.”
National Night Out Against Crime events are funded by their local precinct councils, as well as generous donations from local merchants and businesses.
The NATW partners with Target Corporation each year to fund National Night Out Against Crime events to “help city governments, police departments and grassroots organizers make their events successful and their communities better places to live,” Peskin said.
Each National Night Out Against Crime event promises a healthy share of parades, food, treats, rides and games – just what a youngster needs for a night of crime−fighting.
Here’s a quick list of this year’s event locations, sorted by police precinct:
The 60th Precinct (Coney Island, Brighton Beach, Sea Gate): KeySpan Park, 1904 Surf Avenue; 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The 61st Precinct (Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Homecrest, parts of Midwood): 2575 Coney Island Avenue; 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The 62nd Precinct (Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Gravesend): Bay 22nd Street and Benson Avenue; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The 63rd Precinct (Marine Park, Flatlands, Bergen Beach, Mill Basin, Mill Island, Georgetowne): East 69th Street at the Georgetowne Shopping Center on Ralph Avenue between Avenues K and L; 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The 66th Precinct (Borough Park, Kensington, parts of Midwood): 5822 16th Avenue; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The 67th Precinct (East Flatbush): East 48th Street between Foster Avenue and Avenue D; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The 68th Precinct (Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights): Shore Road Park, 79th Street and Shore Road; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The 69th Precinct (Canarsie, the Paerdegats): Rockaway Parkway between Foster Avenue and Avenue D; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The 70th Precinct (Flatbush, Ditmas Park, Midwood): Parade Grounds, Caton Avenue and Argyle Road; 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The 71st Precinct (Crown Heights): Maple Street between Bedford Avenue and Rogers Avenue; 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The 72nd Precinct (Sunset Park, Windsor Terrace): Sunset Park at 46th Street and 6th Avenue; 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The 73rd Precinct (Brownsville): Thomas Boyland Street between Blake and Dumont avenues; 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The 75th Precinct (Starrett City, East New York): Corner of Vermont Street and Linden Boulevard; 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The 76th Precinct (Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, Gowanus): Coffey Park, along Richard Street between Pioneer and Verona Streets; 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The 77th Precinct (Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Weeksville): Brower Park on Park Place and Brooklyn Avenues, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The 78th Precinct (Park Slope): The neighborhood’s annual anti−crime parade kicks off at Fifth Avenue and Sterling Place at 6 p.m. Celebration continues at Grand Army Plaza.
The 79th Precinct (Bedford Stuyvesant): Herbert Von King Park at Lafayette and Marcy avenues; 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The 81st Precinct (Bedford Stuyvesant, Stuyvesant Heights): Rear of P.S. 81 on DeKalb Avenue between Stuyvesant and Lewis Avenues, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The 83rd Precinct (Bushwick): Maria Hernandez Park, on Knickerbocker Avenue between Starr and Suydam streets, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The 84th Precinct (Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO): Borough Hall Plaza across from the corner of Court and Montague streets; 6:15 p.m. start.
The 88th Precinct (Fort Greene, Clinton Hill): Fort Greene Park along DeKalb Avenue off Washington Square Park. Fun begins at noon.
The 90th Precinct (Williamsburg): At the square at South 4th and Roebling streets; 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The 94th Precinct (Greenpoint): Lorimer and Calyer streets; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
To learn more about the National Night Out Against Crime near you, contact your local precinct. You can find your precinct’s phone number at www.nyc.govâ„htmlâ„nypdâ„htmlâ„homeâ„precincts.shtml
