Joseph Thompson (third from l.) shows off the new civilian patrol’s new banner outside a school in Lindenwood along with community leaders and elected officials. Photo by Phil Corso
There is a new kind of COP heading to Howard Beach.
Eighteen-year resident and former auxiliary cop Joseph C. Thompson set out to start the nonprofit Howard Beach Civilian Observation Patrol in his hometown and met with elected officials and community leaders outside his local elementary school to talk about why.
“I have lived here for years and have seen the changes happen,” Thompson said of recent crime trends in his neighborhood, including car break-ins and burglaries. “We just want to help them by being an extra set of eyes and ears.”
Thompson met with members of the community outside PS 232 in Lindenwood, where his own kids have gone to school, driving the point home as to why he wanted to step up for his neighbors. He worked as an auxiliary officer with the NYPD for a decade, but said his new group could help provide another avenue for active residents to assist the program at the nearby 106th Precinct.
“The 106th Precinct wants to see what we can offer the public,” Thompson said. “At the end of the day, our goal is to improve the quality of life here.”
The 106th Precinct’s auxiliary officer program did not return calls seeking comment.
City Councilman Eric Ulrich (r.) and state Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (c.) hear Joseph Thompson’s goals in starting the new Howard Beach Civilian Observation Patrol. Photo by Phil Corso
The new Howard Beach COP president shook hands with elected officials outside the school on Friday as he ironed out the details of his group. Officials from both city and state government threw support behind the initiative, saying an extra set of eyes and ears could only help.
State Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Rockaway Park) said car break-ins have been a leading issue in the Howard Beach community over recent months, but the new civilian patrol could also tackle the Police Department’s overall need for resources in the community.
“The 106th Precinct has an active auxiliary program,” said Goldfeder “But this kind of program could be a cost-effective resource and work in conjunction with the NYPD. It’s always great news when community members want to get involved.”
City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park) and state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) were also shaking hands with Thompson and his team, showing a unified front from the community’s elected officials.
Thompson designed his own logo for the group, which included a black shield sporting an American flag and eagle on the inside. He said patrol officers would likely be wearing orange jackets with neon writing on the outside so they are not confused with the area’s official police force.
He also said he has been working closely with the nearby Glendale Civilian Observation Patrol, a similar group started in central Queens with the same mindset of boosting the NYPD’s presence in Queens. The cover photo for the Howard Beach patrol’s Facebook page showed members of the G-COP shaking hands alongside Thompson as his group continued to grow.
The most recent 106th Precinct crime statistics showed overall crime was down four percent when compared to last year to date. But two categories in particular showed nearly 50 percent increases when compared to 2013, including 108 grand larceny auto incidents and 12 rapes so far this year.
Joann Ariola, president of the Howard Beach-Lindenwood Civic Association, was all smiles at the morning gathering on Friday as she congratulated Thompson on starting the patrol.
“It’s always a good idea to have people engaged in the community,” she said. “It can only help. No matter what’s going on.”
By Phil Corso
