Results tagged “blueblood”

An AMNew York article delves into the neighborhood and tactical thoughts behind NYPD sky watch towers. The towers have four digital cameras, a spotlight, and a place for a cop to observe what's happening from two stories above the sidewalk. Reaction to the sky watches has been mixed.

Yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly heralded the new group of police officers to graduate from the Police Academy. And this was the most diverse class. Here are some stats from the city:

Of today's graduates, approximately 28% of the graduates are Hispanic, 17% are black, 8% are Asian, 1% are other ethnicities, and 46% are white. Approximately 18% of the graduates are female. Among today's class, 23% have received four-year college degrees; 17% have completed associates degrees; and 13 individuals have earned Master's degrees. Nearly 90% of the class has had some college education.

And one of the graduates was Joel Witriol, the first Hasidic cop. The Post was so excited about Witriol that he graced a July cover ("NYPD JEW") - only to have egg on its face after learning that Witriol was short some credits and wouldn't be graduating with the summer class. Yesterday, Witriol, who is also the third Hasidic police officer in the country, told the Post that he's not sure what he wants to do in the NYPD - his first assignment is the New Year's Eve night shift.

Given current murder rates, it seems that the city's murder rate will go down yet again this year. Newsday reports that NYC is on track "to recoard the lowest homicide rate in at least 40 years": - bout 450 for the year. Even police offices are asking "What's going on?" While murder rates alone are not the ultimate quality-of-life measures, touting low murder rates is a useful tool for Mayors and other city elected officials looking for reelection. The main reason given for the dramatic drops in murders (12% down citywide except the Bronx; nine of last year's top ten precincts with homicides have reduced murder rates) is Operation Impact, the NYPD initiative that deployed police officers into "Impact Zones" with high rates of crime, and the dedication of the police and communities to working together. A John Jay criminologist, Rick Curtis, tells Newsday, "Everyone thinks New York will eventually bottom out, and yet it hasn't; it keeps going down," while a Harlem police source says that medical technology has also helped attempted murders from turning into murders. What Gothamist found interesting is that while many areas in the city are reducing their crime rates, the Bronx "bucks the trend," which probably means its crime reductions are less than the average or they have some crimes that have been more difficult for the police to conquer. We expect the NYPD to put more presence there.

The latest on the Legere case: Legere pleaded not guilty on Monday and the D.A. said the death penalty will not be pursued (there's no capital punishment law in place). A funeral was held for Detective Patrick Rafferty yesterday; Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Kelly, plus thousands of other mourners, attended the service. Additionally, the two detectives were posthumously promoted to first grade detective.

According to PRIZM, "lifestyle segmentation system," Gothamist lives in areas that can be defined as: