When Deputy Inspector Jeffrey Schiff took the reigns at the 106th Precinct at the end of September, we were sad to say goodbye to his predecessor, Deputy Inspector Thomas Pascale, but we were looking forward to Schiff’s leadership.
A 17-year veteran of the NYPD, Schiff came in with energy, promising to work with residents and address such quality of life issues that have plagued the area, such as car break-ins and burglaries.
But, fast forward six months, and that Schiff who was promised to us is nowhere to be found. Instead, during his tenure, we have had carjackings, home invasions, robberies, and burglaries. We have people sleeping with bats in their beds, mothers and fathers afraid to let their children into their yards, sons and daughters caring for elderly parents terrified that criminals will break into their houses while their wheelchair-bound parents are home.
These fears are not unfounded. After months of what has seemed like nonstop crime, residents need – and deserve – relief.
After homeowners have been struck, tied up, and terrified, they deserve to know what they once did: A neighborhood where they could come home after a long day at work, kick off their shoes, and relax. Where they could spend time with their parents and children and not think twice when someone knocks on the door. Or when they see someone they don’t know walking around the neighborhood.
And they deserve a leader who understands they are scared. Who cares. Who, when speaking at a public meeting filled with hundreds of residents who have taken hours out of their lives to hear from their neighborhood police, as occurred Tuesday in Howard Beach, doesn’t laugh or smirk when talking about the unraveling of people’s lives.
Who doesn’t say: True, there has been a decrease in cops around here, around everywhere – and that’s just the way it is.
Because, Deputy Inspector Schiff, that’s not actually the way it has to be. And we’ve already seen a change, thanks to a response from Deputy Chief David Barrere, the relatively new commanding officer of Patrol Borough Queens South, who also attended Tuesday’s Howard Beach Lindenwood Civic meeting. The chief promised he would work with residents – and, as of Wednesday, he informed the community that change is coming.
More change has come following a promise from Barrere than during the entire time Schiff has been in control. In addition to an increase of police in the area, we are getting a command post truck stationed near PS 207 on Thursday, which he said will stick around for as long as we need it, as well as a sergeant and eight community affairs officers assigned to the area for more police visibility.
This, hopefully, sends a message to those who think they can come into our community and make us feel unsafe. Who think they can take away our peace of mind. And, it should send an equally strong message to Deputy Inspector Schiff: Positive change can come. And it can come quickly. And it is a problem that, after months and months, you have not learned this. Or perhaps you have just not cared.
This editorial is not meant to be a criticism of the 106th in general – or the NYPD. On the contrary, we are incredibly grateful for the countless hours our police have poured into our neighborhoods. They are our backbone – which is why we want an effective leader for them.
Just as we deserve a leader who fights for our safety, the officers of the 106th deserve someone who will strengthen the precinct,instead of shrinking its morale, as we understand has happened.
Deputy Inspector Schiff has taken the sense of community out of a tight-knit precinct that we believe in. We believe in it so much that we are calling for Deputy Inspector Schiff to be removed from the 106th and replaced with someone who understands that people here – they love their neighborhood. They grew up here. Their parents grew up here. They want their children to grow up here.
This is a community, Deputy Inspector Schiff – and that means a place where, when the going gets rough, when there are home invasions and carjackings at gunpoints, people do not shrug, say, well, I guess that’s the way it goes, and leave.
We stay. We fight. And we win.
