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Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton to Create New 116th Precinct in Southeast Queens

May 3, 2016

Video available at: https://youtu.be/W7e_ZB-9Hrw


City to invest $70 million for precinct to serve communities of Laurelton, Rosedale, Brookville and Springfield Gardens

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bratton today announced the City will create a new 116th precinct to reduce response times and expand coverage for the growing neighborhoods of Southeast Queens. The City committed $70 million in the Capital plan for this new precinct.

“New York City is the safest big city in America thanks to the tireless dedication of the NYPD, and today we’re proud to announce a new police precinct for the residents of Southeast Queens. The 105th precinct is one of the City’s largest – and for decades, residents have wanted a precinct closer to home. Our investment in a new 116th precinct will address community needs, help reduce response times and bring an additional police presence to the fast-growing neighborhoods in Southeast Queens,” said Mayor de Blasio.

“The 105 Precinct is one of the largest in terms of geographical size. In recent years the Department has established a local substation in order to facilitate police service and response in the southern section of the precinct. By creating a separate command within this area, the NYPD will be able to provide more localized service to the community,” said Commissioner Bratton.

The new 116th precinct will be created out of the southern portions of the existing 105th precinct in Queens, and serve the communities of Laurelton, Rosedale, Brookville and Springfield Gardens. The precinct will address an increase in this area’s population and requests for law enforcement services, and help reduce response times. The current 105th Precinct has the 5th largest precinct population (118,577 residents) and the 5th largest square mileage (12.43 square miles) compared to the other 76 precincts.

The satellite precinct that currently provides additional support to the 105th precinct was expanded under Mayor de Blasio in February 2016. The Mayor added 24-hour coverage and expanded staffing to the satellite precinct, including an additional 18 officers and two sergeants.

The administration will work with the local community and the NYPD to identify a site for this precinct. The location, along with other relevant factors, will determine the timeline for completion. During the site search the existing 105th Precinct Satellite will continue to support police services. Upon the selection and approval of a location, an analysis will be undertaken to determine the precinct’s borders. The analysis will study factors such as geography, population, 911/311 calls, crime and quality of life issues with the goal of increasing services while distributing workload as equitably as possible. In connection with this analysis, stakeholders – including residents and elected officials – will be consulted.

“It is a new day in Southeast Queens, as nearly 40 years of pleas for a new precinct have finally been answered,” said Council Member Donovan Richards. “The issues of long response times and a distant police presence will soon be a thing of the past for the residents of Laurelton, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens and this huge victory for the community would not have been possible without residents such as Bess DeBetham, who never gave up on fighting to achieve this dream. This $70 million is also a big win for the dedicated officers of the 105th Precinct, who do an outstanding job despite having to cover roadways that span the distance of New York to Boston. Since I became the Council Member for District 31, the creation of a new precinct has been one of the loftiest goals that I sent my sights on. Now, thanks to years of hard work and the partnership of Council Member Barry Grodenchik, that goal has become a reality. I’d also like to thank Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bratton for their dedication to public safety and their commitment to eastern Queens communities.”

“Before taking office I made the establishment of a new police precinct in Eastern Queens a top priority. The creation of the new 116 Precinct is a watershed moment. Its impact on the public safety of our communities, from North Shore Towers and Queens Village to Rosedale and Springfield Gardens, cannot be overstated. This new precinct is the culmination of 40 years of community and political activism, and I thank Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner William Bratton for their commitment to our communities. I also congratulate my colleague Donovan Richards who fought for this new precinct from his first day in office. Working together, Council Member Richards and I have secured an enormous victory for our constituents,” said Council Member Barry S. Grodenchik.

As New York City changes, so do the public safety needs of our neighborhoods. I applaud Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner Bratton, and Council Members Donovan Richards and Barry Grodenchik for recognizing the need for an additional precinct in Southeast Queens and taking the steps needed to bring it to the community . Through the creation of a 116th precinct, we will not only make Southeastern Queens communities safer, but also lessen the burden on the officers of the 105th precinct, allowing them to better serve the neighborhoods within their jurisdiction. Once again, I thank the Mayor, the Commissioner and Council Members Richards and Grodenchik for their commitment to New York City and look forward to an even safer Queens,” said Council Member Vanessa Gibson.

“Public safety is our first line of defense in the City and this new precinct will help ensure this vital service is delivered equitably. With the 105th, 107th, and 113th Precincts having one of the largest areas to protect in the City, I am confident that this new station will allow the NYPD to help keep people in Eastern Queens safe,” said Council Member Daneek Miller.

"This is why we fought so hard for 1,300 new police officers last year, so we can give each community the police presence they deserve – including the long-sought dream of splitting the 105th precinct into two to better serve southeast Queens neighborhoods," said Council Member Rory I. Lancman, Chair of the Committee on Courts and Legal Services.

"Mayor de Blasio's substantial investment toward the creation of a new 116th Precinct is welcome news for Queens," said Borough President Melinda Katz. "The size of the existing 105th Precinct, which covers nearly 13 square miles and has its stationhouse on the northern end of the vertically-long territory, has posed significant geographical challenges that make it difficult to fully serve neighborhoods in the southern half of its jurisdiction. Many families in Laurelton, Rosedale, Brookville and Springfield Gardens have long identified the need for a new precinct closer to the neighborhoods it protects and serves."

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, “Today’s announcement that the City will establish a new police precinct in Southeast Queens is indeed welcome news. It will result in greater efficiency, bring our police officers closer to the communities that they are sworn to serve and better address community concerns. I commend Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton for making it happen.”

"Even before I was first elected to public office in 1992, I have advocated for the opening of a new precinct in Southeast Queens. With the creation of this precinct, police response times will be quicker, police-community relations will improve, and the communities of Laurelton, Rosedale, Brookville, and Springfield Gardens will be safer and better served. I thank Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton for listening to the people of Southeast Queens and enhancing the safety of our neighborhoods. I want to also thank all of the community organizations who have worked with me on this critical issue,” said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks.

State Senator James Sanders Jr. said, “For years the residents of Southeast Queens and elected officials such as myself have been fighting for the addition of a new police precinct in the area to take some of the burden off of the 105th Precinct, which does a fine job, but is often stretched thin, covering 12.7 square miles and 354 miles of roadway. The addition of the new 116th Precinct represents an enormous victory for residents and demonstrates the city’s continued commitment to public safety. Hopefully, the presence of the 116th Precinct will lead to a decline in crime and improve response times.”

"I would like to commend Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner Bratton, all of my colleagues in government, particularly Council Members Donovan Richards and Barry Grodenchik, and all of the advocates who fought for years to see this vision come to fruition," said State Senator Leroy Comrie. "I have to also acknowledge the stalwarts who kept stoking the flames for four decades to see this tremendous achievement accomplished, Bess Debetham, Irnel Stephen, the late Donald Bonoceur and all of the community leaders and organizations such as the Rosedale Civic Association, Cambria Heights Civic Association, Federated Blocks of Laurelton, and so many others. This new precinct will increase response times and add a greater depth of safety to our residents and help improve quality of life all throughout Southeast Queens."

"When I became the Assembly Member for the 29th District, one of my first conversations with Mayor de Blasio was about the creation of a new precinct in the community” said Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman. “I'm truly grateful that the precinct has become a reality after so many years. This was a team effort, and I want to thank Mayor de Blasio, Council Member Richards and mostly the civic leaders who fought long and hard to make this happen.”

“After nearly four decades of perseverance, a new 116th precinct will be established,” said Assembly Member Michele R. Titus. “Thanks to $70 million secured from Mayor de Blasio’s capital budget, residents of Laurelton, Rosedale, Springfield Gardens and Brookville will see police response times cut nearly in half, which is a win-win for everyone.”

"The new 116th Precinct will be a vital addition to the Southeast Queens Community. The area will definitely be safer with this facility because response time will be quicker," said Jackie Campbell, President of 147th Road Block and Community Association.

"This 116th Precinct is proof of the Mayor de Blasio's commitment to personal safety of constituents and the security of their community. Win-Win initiative of better policing for northeast Queens by the 105th precinct and adequate policing of Southeast Queens communties of Rosedale, Laurelton, and Brookville," said Irnel Stephens, President of the Rosedale Civic Association.

"We need the 116th Precinct in our community to help, alleviate, and minimize the response time to many of the issues facing our community," said Alfred Osbourne, Community Board 13 Member.



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