By Jeff Lipton
The total number of felonies fell from 377 in 2001 to 313 last year. Major crime comprises murder, rape, robbery, burglary, assault and auto theft.
The decline was led by a 35 percent decrease in the number of stolen cars, from 114 to 74, a 20 percent dip in robberies, from 59 to 47, and a 23 percent drop in assaults, from 95 to 73. But burglary showed an 8 percent spike, from 102 in 2001 to 111 in 2002. The number of murders also rose, from zero to two, but rape showed a drop, from seven to six, a 14 percent decline.
I'm pleased with the decrease in the percentage of robberies and assaults, said Inspector George Gudmundsen, Fourth Precinct commander. I attribute the decrease in robberies to excellent police work and the cooperation between uniformed police officers and the detectives squad.
He added that statistics show a significant increase in arrests for robbery across the command, which would take possible repeat offenders off the streets, thus reducing the overall number of hold-ups.
Gudmundsen credited the drop in auto theft to officers' efforts to stop more traffic law violators, pulling drivers over for speeding, running red lights or stop signs, making unsafe lane changes and other violations. The stops, which have occurred mostly in the western end of the Five Towns, on the Five Towns/Queens border, have led to a reduction in the number of stolen cars, Gudmundsen said. He explained that word has spread that Fourth Precinct police are aggressively seeking auto thieves, forcing them to set up shop elsewhere.
We have been making many more traffic stops, the inspector said. When [car thieves] see the police activity, they tend to go to a new area.
Gudmundsen said the aggressive anti-car-theft measures have grown out of the two-year-old NASS-STAT program, a sophisticated computer system that tracks patterns of crime, enabling police to direct their resources to address specific problems.
It's been great by mapping where crimes have been occurring and helping us to deploy our resources in areas we are experiencing criminal activity, he said. It gives us a game plan in fighting criminals. But it is very work-intensive.
The Fourth Precinct commander credited the 23 percent dive in the number of assaults to the assignment of roving patrols to middle and high schools in the Five Towns, particularly during arrival and dismissal times, cutting down on the number of fights between students. He added that officers also have visited local schools to check in with administrators about possible tensions among students. We have a cooperative relationship with all the schools, Gudmundsen said.
School officials have given police rave reviews. The Fourth Precinct police have been wonderful, said Joyce Bisso, Hewlett High School principal. We have had a rapid response to all our calls for assistance.
Bisso added that the Fourth Precinct Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) unit has been extremely visible in the community, and officers have attended the district's Wellness Committee meetings, where they've joined in discussions of drug abuse and other crucial issues. The police are always readily available to conference with us, and that's due to the cooperation of Inspector Gudmundsen and his staff, Bisso said. The POP Unit is extraordinary, a model of community cooperation. I am very, very pleased with the police service.
Mara Jacobowitz of North Woodmere, a parent who is deeply involved in District 14 issues, said police have been extremely responsive to calls for service. I think it's excellent, she said of their response.
Early last year, Jacobowitz recalled, she saw a youth banging another youth's head against the pavement in Hewlett and called police, who arrived within 45 seconds. We've had a great response from the Fourth Precinct, she said. They've been fabulous. I feel safe. They have been doing a terrific job.
Gudmundsen said police have been doing more with fewer officers, since manpower has been decreased over the years.
