By Mica Soffer, Publisher and Editor of COLlive.com
Photos: Aharon Gelis/COLlive
Inspector Joseph Hayward has recently been assigned to lead the 71st Precinct of the New York Police Department as Commanding Officer (C.O.).
With 22 years in the NYPD, he has experience in policing in various neighborhoods in Brooklyn, but this is his first time leading in a predominantly Jewish area.
The 71st Precinct polices the southern portion of Crown Heights, home to Lubavitch World Headquarters and a highly active Jewish community, as well as Wingate and Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
In an interview with COLlive.com on Thursday, Inspector Hayward said he is “looking forward to learning about the Orthodox Jewish customs” of the local residents.
Here are excerpts of the interview:
Please tell us a little about yourself:
I have 22 years of experience in the NYPD. I spent many years in the borough of Queens. I’ve been assigned to various precincts in Brooklyn since 2010. Most recently, I was the Deputy Inspector of the 60th Precinct in Coney Island, Brooklyn.
What is the current state of affairs in Crown Heights?
Currently, the neighborhood is doing well with regard to crime. At the end of last year, there has been an increase in crime rates throughout the city, with shooting incidents up citywide. However, thank G-d, in this neighborhood we haven’t had too much of an increase.
What there has been lately in the neighborhood is an increase in stolen vehicles. Just before I arrived (in late December), there was an arrest made of an individual who was a suspect in many car window break-ins, and since then the complaints have gone down drastically. However there has been an increase in stolen vehicle complaints, so I want to remind everyone to lock their car doors and don’t leave the keys in the car or the car running while you go into a store.
What have you learned about the Crown Heights community since you arrived?
I have hit the ground running and am so excited to meet all the people of the community. I have already met with a lot of the community leaders, such as Devorah Halberstam, who is an Honorary NYPD Commissioner and a liaison to the NYPD, who taught me a lot about security and safety measures in New York City as well as worldwide.
I also met Chanina Sperlin, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the CHJCC, who taught me a lot about the Jewish customs and events. I also have met with Rabbi Mendy Sharfstein, who spoke to me about the importance of the 770 building and all the positivity it brings to so many around the world.
I also met with Karl Cohen, president of the 71st Precinct Community Council, and Richard Green of the Crown Heights Youth Collective on keeping kids involved in positive and productive things.
What’s your main focus entering the 71st Precinct?
My main goal is to strengthen ties between the community and the cops. Customer service always has to be our number one priority. I want the cops to be friends to the community, and the precinct should be a friendly place, a place where people can feel free to come and air out problems, and discuss any issues they may have.
I also intend to work hard to arrest those with illegal firearms. In most communities, it’s a small group of people who are causing much of the crime. The same guy who has an illegal gun is the one doing the robbery, or committing assaults, and so on. So we need to get them the help they need, or get them off the streets and penalize them for their actions. If we start off right, we should see a turnaround. We already have had several gun arrests recently.
What do you feel about the “Defund the Police” movement?
I don’t really like the term “Defund the Police.” But I do think reallocating money is not a terrible thing. Every city agency should see if any funds should be reallocated to affect positive change. For example, to build a new park or dedicate more money to quality of life issues.
What is something you want local residents to know?
I want to make a footprint in the area. I always say, when I start a new job, I want to leave it better than I found it. If I can make an impact by reducing crime and building ties, and the community is happy, then that’s a great thing.
So far, everyone I have met has been so nice and welcoming. I look forward to working with Mike [Baratta], the Community Affairs Officer, and the NCO officers, closely to become even more familiar with Jewish culture.
For emergencies call 9-1-1. To reach the 71st precinct, visit https://www1.nyc.gov/site/nypd/bureaus/patrol/precincts/71st-precinct.page.
Maybe he should try living here as a Jew and getting a small glimpse into our experience of living here as law abiding citizens with almost zero support from the ‘local precinct’. While there are a few that do rise above and are good and friendly neighbors, the Overwhelming majority are hostile and either actively harass/assault or clearly support it with looks, words, behaviors with their cars, and general lack of those certain subtle mannerisms that differentiate a peaceful citizen from a sociopath.
Add grass and fix the playgrounds
The Crime in CH is getting way out of hand recently, There is unfortunately almost every day violent crime in the CENTER of Crown Heights, Every week there is another Shooting incident in the Center of CH. Most smaller crimes like Package Thefts, many Car Break ins and other “Smaller Crimes” and Quality of life issues/crimes are way under reported with most not being reported at all, And everyone knows this. Yes BH for those that notice, the 71st Pct over the past few months has done a excellent job removing many illegal weapons off the streets, Thank You &… Read more »
I would suggest/demand you we should all reachout to All Frum Elected Officials, Community Leaders, Activist’s & Askonim that they should try to encourage the head brass of the NYPD to placing more Officers to CH. As well maybe if the new Commanding Officer can request from the NYPD to assign more police for CH. Here in CH we have the majority of our neighborhood residents, Appreciates the NYPD, Understands that in a normal society you need Law & Order, Respects the NYPD, Help’s the NYPD in apprehending criminals, & wants more NYPD Officers by our local Precinct’s to patrol the streets, Its just a… Read more »
The new C.O. of the 71st precinct should be made aware of the attitude of the majority of the frum residents of Crown Heights: WE ARE NOT IN FAVOR OF “DEFUNDING THE POLICE DEPT.” To us it’s a code phrase for weakening the police dept., and that should not be allowed to happen. Reallocated funds should come from other areas of government. They should not be coming from the dept. most responsible for keeping our streets safe. You want to beautify the parks or expand some drug rehab programs? Great! Close down some less than successful programs – an HONEST… Read more »
How can they stop crime when they are busy giving out hatzalah members tickets i was standing in front off 770 2 weeks ago when hatzoloh came to help our people and was given a ticket right in front of all of us and when we asked why the officer told us cause he’s parked in a illegal spot. Now does that sound like the correct thing to do ???
Can’t wait to ask him if we are Related, One never knows
The BLM that got it started says so. So do the liberal politicians that are ordering it to be done. While getting guns out of the hands of criminals is a great thing, I find that the rhetoric is usually just a code for taking them away from citizens who want them for self-defense FROM the criminals. If Yankel Rosenbaum had a gun, he’d probably still be alive today. The criminals still commit crimes, even without guns. Instead of focusing on the guns, they should focus on the crimes and those who perpetrate them and get the criminals off the… Read more »