Brooklyn DA: "Aware Of Increase In Gang Activity" In Parks

Screenshot from a music video of the "Brower Boys"

Following reports of a "turf war" between residents and roving bands of teenagers in Brower Park and the Park Slope Playground, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes is seeking to assuage fears that his office is out of touch with the issue. "We are definitely aware of the increase in gang activity in parks and playgrounds," Hynes's spokesperson Jerry Schmetterer told the Daily News. According to Schmetterer, the DA's Gang's Bureau is "monitoring their activity. And we are in touch with the community about it."

The paper visited four other parks in Brooklyn where gang activity allegedly prevents citizens from using the greenspace: Paerdegat Park in East Flatbush, Detective Dillion Stewart Playground by Parade Grounds, Dean Street Park near Park Slope and Highbridge Park in East New York. Although we do find their designation of this handshake as a "gang sign" somewhat dubious, lest they ever forget "terrorist fist-jabs."

"Come here after three, forget it," one resident said of Stewart Playground. "It's becoming bad here. Before there weren't so many teens. They need cops patrolling the park." However, one Bed-Stuy resident sees the NYPD's response in clearing out a basketball court and playground at the Marcy Houses as a possible model for the rest of the borough: "The cops come in here when it gets dark. They go on the basketball courts and ask for ID. Then they kick them all out."

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By Christopher Robbins in News on September 24, 2011 6:00 PM

Comments [rss]

AsThouWilt

Parks usually close at Dusk. If thats what the problem is. Understood. Otherwise i call Bull___ on this. They didn't come to your neighborhood, you came to theirs. Freedom of assembly, heard of it. Has anyone been hurt??? Has a crime been committed? "ROVING BANDS OF TEENAGERS" Sounds like their colonizers killing with the sword and cross as they walk Brooklyn, taking treasure. Like I said. BULL.

Jimmy

savages forcing people to live in fear and savage civilians protecting them by not snitching so they can get their crack later, meanwhile their dealer just robbed them. love the african neighborhoods.

Jimmy

the hood is a virus and it is spreading to a corner near you

Raymundo Az-Tek Valentin

You are using the word "Savage" with so much hate, so much arrogance. The hood is not a virus it's when a community is being broken up by failing school systems, aggressive cops and many unemployed families with children that see no positive future.

soothsayer

"They go on the basketball courts and ask for ID. Then they kick them all out.""

under NYS law you do not have to show ID to police. police arrest you anyway for not producing id.

whitecastlerock

I think they kick them out because the park "closes" at a certain hour.

Guest

No, you can be arrested if you're getting a summons and do not show id. You're being arrested for the violation, not for not having an id. Technically, a police officer always has the discretion to detain someone in lieu of a summons.

It makes perfect sense: some people who are to receive a summons would give a fake address and name to the police officer writing the ticket. Also, why would someone wanted for a crime ever tell their identity to an officer if there was no way for the cop to determine if the info is accurate?