East Flatbush Public Safety Coalition

With citywide crime rates plummeting, throughout much of the 2000s, the Brooklyn neighborhood of East Flatbush saw violence remain stubbornly persistent.

To address violence, community groups, neighborhood leaders and clergy formed partnerships with the Mayor’s Office and the local 67th Precinct in order to form the first-ever, “Public Safety Coalition.”

Acting in concert from July 1st to September 29, 2017, the Coalition witnessed historically low shooting incidents and correspondingly low numbers of shooting victims, as compared to rates the year before.

The sharing of responsibility for public safety by police with community, social service agencies and violence interrupter organizations, as coordinated by strong clergy leadership, can continue the decline in historic lows in crimes in New York City and in areas experiencing endemic violence.

Click here to listen to the important and often difficult work of the Public Safety Coalition.

The voices and sounds of this work reflect the heartbreaking reality of gun violence in New York City. While it is deeply upsetting and may not be suitable for everyone, we hope it inspires others to develop similar coalitions in other communities affected by gun violence.

Our thanks to partners including the 67th Precinct Clergy Council, Inc. (The GodSquad), Guns Down, Life Up, KAVI, East Flatbush Village, BrightPoint Health, Kingsbrook & Brookdale Medical Centers, Mother’s Elect, CAMBA, Concrete Pillars in the Community, 67th Precinct (the Commanding Officer, NCOs, Community Affairs, and Ceasefire staff), and other community volunteers.