Crime Within 71st precinct, Late 1980s-early 2000s
Hello, I am working on my senior thesis for my bachelor’s in Sociology. The topic is Crime in Brooklyn, and I am focusing on the changes that have occurred in the 71st precinct over the last 20 years. If you are a resident of the area covered by the 71st precinct (Prospect Lefferts, Crown Heights)…
Hello, I am working on my senior thesis for my bachelor’s in Sociology. The topic is Crime in Brooklyn, and I am focusing on the changes that have occurred in the 71st precinct over the last 20 years.
If you are a resident of the area covered by the 71st precinct (Prospect Lefferts, Crown Heights) who has resided in the neighborhood for at least 15 years, I would appreciate any insights as to the crime level here (what you observed over the course of time as far as policing, closures of businesses were criminal activity occurred,recollections of serious incidents). If you have any suggestions as to other people who might be useful for me to speak with,that would also be very helpful!
Thank you Brownstoners!
Contact: bklyn.sr.thesis@gmail.com
Thank you for the information, Bob Marvin.
I am curious to know a few other things about the crime in this period:
You said the neighbors got together to form CNIS in the late 70’s: what was the catalyst for the formation of the group? You mentioned earlier that PLG was a low crime area, but if the neighbors were willing to pay $200 per year for security services, there must have been some kind of fear of crime? Or perhaps there were incidences of crime that made this necessary?
Can you recall any specific areas of crime in the neighborhood? My father mentioned the “Zodiac Lounge” on Flatbush Avenue (where Mike’s International restaurant used to be,it is now vacant) was one such spot that drew a lot of drug traffic. In your opinion,was this a source of fear for the neighborhood?
Also, you said that you were not always happy with the response of the 71st precinct. Did you notice any changes in the policing tactics of the 71st since the early 1990s? Did they target any high-crime areas? Arrest people for minor offenses (loitering,drinking in public)?
Thank you for answering my questions! If you can put me in contact with any other folks in the neighborhood who can provide information please email me at bklyn.sr.thesis@gmail.com.
I’ve lived in Prospect Lefferts Gardens since 1974 and would be happy to answer any specific questions you might have. One thing I can definitely say is that PLG has always been a relatively low crime area and the crime statistics have generally been skewed by the higher crime areas within the 71stPct., to the north and east.
That is not to say that my neighbors and I have always been happy with the response of the 71st Pct. Case in point–from the late ’70s through the early ’90s we organized the “Committee for Neighborhood Improvement and Safety” which required 50% of those in the coverage area (basically Lefferts Manor, plus a couple of other blocks) to contribute $200 a year (not a small sum 30+ years ago) to hire a private security company to patrol the neighborhood and provide a shuttle service from the Prospect Park subway stop. CNIS dissolved when crime rates dropped substantially.
When I served my last term as Lefferts Manor Association president in 1998, someone got up at a meeting and said “why don’t you organize a neighborhood patrol?” I didn’t think one was needed anymore but responded “why don’t you go ahead and organize one under LMA auspices?” To my great surprise, he did just that, instead of being intimidated by having responsibility directed back at him. However that patrol dissolved a couple of years later, having never actually observed a crime in progress.
Thank you mopar.I will be heading to the precinct this week, but I am looking for information from individuals in the neighborhood at this time rather than online information (newspapers,etc).
Most of this information is available online. You can also visit the precinct for more.