By COLlive reporter
Photos by Yisrael Belizovsky
The new commander of the NYPD’s 71st Precinct, Deputy Inspector George Fitzgibbon, came to the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council on Monday for official introductions to the community.
At the request of the council members, the meeting was also to focus on the recent increase in possible bias attacks against members of the Jewish community.
For that purpose, Fitzgibbon was joined by the commander of the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, Captain Mark Magrone; 71st Community Affairs Officer, Detective Vinny Martinos and Pinny Ringel, the Jewish liaison of Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio.
Inspector Fitzgibbon began by saying how excited he had been when he first was told of his appointment to the 71st Precinct. He looks forward to spending a long time at the Precinct and he is encouraged by the warm welcome he has received from community members.
The inspector also spoke of his joy at having been involved in coordinating the Kinus Hashluchim Convention and is quickly learning from Detective Martinos and the rest of the Community Affairs team about all the special events in the community throughout the year.
The topic quickly switched to Hate Crimes, as the CHJCC leadership wanted to know what the police department is doing to prevent future incidents and to catch those involved. Captain Magrone detailed the steps that have been taken so far.
On the prevention side, police department personnel have been visiting local schools and talking to the students about the seriousness of bias attacks. The school safety officers have also been working to identify the groups of students who may be involved. Detectives are making use of Pictures and video obtained from the community, but there are no clear faces in any of the video obtained so far.
Community activists present stressed that the best way to bring calm to the community is by making an arrest. The officers assured them that they understood and that they were working hard to solve the crimes.
Several clips of the group involved in the Sunday night attack were already obtained. They show a group of about ten young people walking up the east side of Kingston Avenue between 9:25 and 9:30pm, as reported on COLlive.com.
The police asked that any individuals or businesses that have video that may show that group are urged to make copies and call the Community Council so they can be connected to the detectives working on the case.
last time I looked he was no longer alive…
We must ask the Yeshivas to open the self Defence classes and other martial arts classes with professional instactrors , as a part of the school curriculum both for boys and girls in any ages . We must be strong to protect ourselves . School must teach the student what to do in the situation when you have been attacked by several people . School must give instruction to the student – not go alone even during the daylight or with adults … The bad guys understand power and punishment not words …. Be strong to protect yourself and then… Read more »
Where is Meir kahana
…..
where are the T>V.monitors on Crown Hieght streets
Behrman surely has done good for the shchuna… no need to knock on those who r also trying to do their part
We need beat cops & not just on Kingston…how about every Avenue & street? And make them MOVE…they huddle in a doorway instead of patrolling up & down & being watchful.
Commander Fitzgibbon – you have inherited the laziest, most apathetic & unfriendly bunch of loser cops. We are under attack & they are never there! How many times do we have to read that the “suspects” (ALWAYS Black) got away? Thank G-d for the efforts of Shomrim, whatever good happens is due to their quick responses. YOUR PRECINCT…do something! Before we have someone killed chas v’sholom.
Where is rabbi Epstein and his cattle prod?
‘Todah’ ‘Vaad HaKhal’ for trying.
Very difficult to do a lot with such a weak government.
BS”D what happened to the days when you could look up to the leadership of CH and they were respected by others
( Malamads, Drimmers etc. and say what you may about him Rabbi F). Today’s Vaads are molded completely on politics-one Vaad supports one Rav, the next Vaad supports another Rav. Nothing at all to do with what is best for the community
Yakov Behrman does a good job with his media contacts. That said the problems with bad CH leadership won’t be changed by replacing 1 person with another, I think their a lot deeper then that.
He for my vote
u need to be appointed as CEO of CH
Proactive is the way to get things done!
Be respectful but firm! the squeakiest wheel gets the grease.
It’s not a new idea! What is taking so long to do something?
Street cameras are the first step and HURRY UP. plus maybe signs all over saying “under constant police surveillance”
let them put out wanted signs all over the news finding these thugs.
The NYPD is doing nothing about it
Where is Tamir, head of the Community Council?
What does anybody representing us from the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council, know about security?
Thank you Rabbi Cohen I’m thanking you for making this meeting happen and your great involvement
Todah
The insidious reason behind all of these crimes comes from the same place as whatever motivates the police to be more than eager to arrest a Jew for defending himself against attackers while refusing to arrest for a violent crime committed against a Jew r”l. The fact that they have to be REQUESTED to arrest hate crimes which have been consistently on the increase, is the sign of the real ailment in this community.