By Mica Soffer, Publisher of COLlive.com
Photos: Shimi Kutner/COLlive
New York Police Department Deputy Inspector Francis Giordano is the new Commanding Officer of the 71st Precinct, which serves the southern portion of Crown Heights, Wingate, and Prospect Lefferts Gardens.
But Brooklyn isn’t new to him.
Joining the police force in 1998, Giordano was assigned to this eclectic borough throughout most of his career. Most recently, he has been in Canarsie, Brownsville and East Flatbush.
“I am very familiar with Brooklyn, and I’m very familiar with Crown Heights, and I couldn’t be prouder to work here with a wonderful group of men and women in the 71st Precinct,” he told us on Tuesday.
Mrs. Devorah Halberstam, clergy liaison to the 71st precinct and a community activist, said she is happy with the pick. “He is a hands-on inspector,” she said. “He will be a community inspector, he knows what’s important. We are very lucky to have him.”
Here are excerpts of his conversation with COLlive.com:
* What do you know about the Crown Heights community?
The Crown Heights community is very diverse and rich. When I was a young cop, I worked the Harmony Day picnic and was involved doing details to secure 770 Eastern Parkway for the holidays.
* Anyone in the neighborhood you are personally familiar with?
When I was a young rookie cop, Devorah Halberstam spoke to us, a group of officers, about the terrible murder of her son Ari Halberstam, and it stuck with me forever.
Recently, she contacted me about the security for the Bais Rivkah Production during the women’s convention (Kinus Hashluchos) which was held at Canarsie High School. It brought back memories of what she spoke to us about.
* Who from the Jewish community have you met since being assigned the 71st?
I met some of the community members, including Mrs. Halberstam, Rabbi Leibel Groner, Chanina Sperlin and Rabbi Mendel Sharfstein from 770.
* What have you learned from those meetings?
They let me know that Crown Heights is a special place and that the relationship is very strong among all the residents and between the residents and the police department. We all intend to keep it that way.
* What are the challenges you are facing?
There’s a lot going on here. Different times of the year bring different events to the community. The holidays are very important to us, summertime is a very important time, there are concerts in Wingate, and the West Indian Day Parade every Labor Day. It’s a very vibrant community and we play an active role in that.
Speaking of the Labor Day parade. Is there any talk of moving it due to violence it often includes?
I haven’t heard anything about that. It’s part of the city’s tradition.
* How are the crime stats in the 71st?
Crime stats here are stable. Crime was down last year overall and we are going to continue to keep it under control.
* What can be done to further lower those stats?
The most important part we play in avoiding crime is the victims themselves. There are no statistics on what each victim feels related to the crime. So our job is to make the people – the residents and business owners, feel safe here.
We have the Neighborhood Coordination Officers – NCO program still in effect in the area. Two police officers are designated as NCO’s that are assigned to a specific geographical area. Their role is to be there for the residents and business owners, for any and all issues, whether related to crime or small quality of life issues.
The program itself has a vast strength to it because it allows the police officers that are a part of it to be community-oriented crime fighters. They receive special training and their job is to keep the areas they’re in control of safe.
Each team that’s assigned to the areas holds a meeting once a quarter. They’re called ‘build a block meetings’. We welcome residents to attend these meetings because that’s how the officers find out what might be brewing in front of their house, on their street, or around the corner.
One of the easiest ways to access this help is the ‘Build a Block’ website. It allows any user to see who their NCO officers are and how to contact them for help.
* How can residents assist with the police work?
The community, the citizens, are our partners. The information that they give us related to crime occurrences, related to the quality of life issues or any type of conflict that may be occurring between residents, is extremely important to us. We need the community to thrive and we need to keep the neighborhood safe.
* Thank you for speaking with us and for your service.
maybe someone should show him how many people have been killed
More important than promising to lower crime is to keep an honest line with the residents and not sweep crimes under the rug to keep the numbers looking good. That’s where younlose the faith of the community. Best of luck in your new position.