As murder continues to skyrocket within the confines of Flatbush’s 70th Police Precinct, major felony crime reports is down sharply.
However, with 19 Bronx cops charged last week with downgrading crimes reports, a closer examination at the 70th precincts crime statistics is warranted.
According to the 70th Precinct’s most recent statistics there have been six murders as of July 12 as compared to one at this time last year and this doesn’t count last week’s fatal shooting of 25-year-old Adetunji Ajakaye. There were only three murders for all of last year.
Additionally both shooting incidents are up 18 percent for the year and shooting victims are up 50 percent for the year. However, the statistics show overall felony crime is down over 16 percent.
Among the questionable crime statistics is a look at are assault and larceny incidents – both of which crimes can get either a felony or misdemeanor classification. Often it is up to the station house to decide whether these reported incidents are listed as felony or misdemeanor crimes.
There have been 125 reported felony assault incidents thus far this year within the confines of the 70th Precinct as compared to 173 last year or nearly a 28 percent drop in this crime. However, reported misdemeanor assault incidents are more than double the felony assault incidents with 427 for the year which is a 6.6 percent increase when there was 401 such incidents at this time in 2014.
Similarly there have been 290 reported incidents of grand larceny this year or a 20 percent drop from the 363 incidents at this time last year. Petit larceny, though, is up 8.6 percent at 757 incidents so far in 2015 as compared to 697 at this time last year.
A copy of this story is being sent to NYPD headquarters today for a response.
Either way, the skyrocketing of violent crime in the area is sending shockwaves through the community.
“This is getting just as bad as it was in the early 2000s,” said Executive Director Robin Redmond of the Flatbush Development Corporation, a non-profit organization that responds to the needs of the Flatbush community. “Is there something that [New York Mayor Bill] de Blasio can say that will make it all better? No, this is something that needs to be addressed by higher-ups.”
“Our area has been rocked by violence recently and we have a complex situation that needs immediate attention,” Flatbush City Councilman Mathieu Eugene told a Ditmas Park Corner reporter. “We must work together to ensure that residents throughout our city feel safe at all hours of the day. I’m working on measures that will make our area safer and I have had multiple meetings with concerned residents and leaders to brainstorm ways to ensure a safer community.”
