Traffic in the Bedford Park section of the Bronx was held up for more than half an hour at the start of the rally on Friday, Sept. 25. Horns blared as invited speakers addressed a crowd of more than 50 people who had gathered at the busy intersection of Bainbridge Avenue and Bedford Park Boulevard. There was no need to call the cops, however; they were already lined up for the Community March Against Gun Violence.

 

Thomas J. Alps, deputy inspector of the 52nd precinct, told Norwood News before the rally the event had been organized to bring together the community, elected officials, the Bronx DA, and the community’s violence interrupters “Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence” (B.R.A.G.) to fight back against the increase in violence occurring within the local precinct.

 

A review of the most recent NYPD crime data shows shootings and shooting victims in the 52nd precinct have almost doubled based on year-to-date figures, compared with the same period last year. There were 19 shooting incidents in 2020 through Sept. 27, compared to 13 during the same period last year, representing a 46.2 percent increase.

 

The uptick in crime is reflective of the ongoing violence witnessed across the city throughout 2020. Just two days after the rally took place, a man was murdered in an apparent stabbing incident at 315 East 206th Street in Norwood and daylight shootings have also become more common, such as the one on Sept. 29, on Fordham Road as children were leaving P.S. 33, located just around the corner on Jerome Avenue.

 

The Community March Against Gun Violence started with speeches from Alps, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Councilman Fernando Cabrera, B.R.A.G. Senior Program Director David Caba, and Brenda Caldwell-Paris, president of the 52nd Precinct Community Council. Afterwards, the marchers, some holding signs which read “SOS – Save Our Streets”, “Don’t Shoot – I Want to Grow Up!” and “Stop the Violence!” made their way through Bedford Park, ending the march at St. James Park.

 

During her remarks, Clark made clear her reason for attending the event. “I have been marching all summer because I’m tired, tired, tired of this violence that’s plaguing our community,” she told the crowd. “We are killing ourselves, and we have to do more to bring awareness to that fact, and do more to make sure that we can do things to prevent it and to save lives.”

 

As of Oct. 6, the percentage increase in year-to-date shootings and shooting victims in the Bronx was 72.5 percent, and 84.8 percent respectively, compared with the same period last year. These were below those recorded this year during the same period in Queens South (106.3 percent, 100 percent), Brooklyn North (110 percent, 101 percent), Brooklyn South (141.7 percent, 163.2 percent) and on Staten Island (100 percent, 125 percent), but were above those recorded in Queens North (31.6 percent, 57.1 percent), Manhattan North (59.5 percent, 75 percent) and Manhattan South (50 percent, 60 percent).

 

According to the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, from 2013 to 2019, the Bronx has ranked the highest of all boroughs for violent crime per 1,000 residents, though year-end figures for 2020 are not yet available.

The 52nd precinct has partnered with B.R.A.G. to bolster outreach efforts with some of the local neighborhoods most affected by gun violence. The organization’s violence interrupters, also known as “credible messengers,” are members who have experienced gun violence, and are trained to identify youth at risk of “retaliatory violence.”

 

By engaging with the community at events like anti-gun violence rallies, the group hopes to create a bridge with law enforcement in communities that need protection from violent offenders. B.R.A.G. originated in the 46th precinct and has since grown into three divisions: B.R.A.G. West, B.R.A.G. North, and B.R.A.G. Northwest, which includes the 52nd precinct.

 

David Caba attributes the group’s success in helping reduce gun violence to its members’ good reputation within these communities. “If you’re out there late at night at 1-2 a.m., if you’re us [B.R.A.G.], we’re credible,” Caba said.

 

“We’re from that community. We grew up in that community. They know who we are,” he added. “They’ll stop and think about the consequences before they do conduct the violence.” In addition, B.R.A.G. raises awareness about violence and its larger impact, and promotes community norms that embrace non-violence.

 

Meanwhile, Caldwell-Paris had a message for anyone who feels the NYPD is not interested in their concerns. She suggested they attend the monthly meetings of the 52nd Precinct Community Council, currently held online through Zoom since the pandemic hit.

 

Caldwell-Paris said attendees will hear from Alps and others about the latest precinct crime statistics, tips on how to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime, they will be introduced to new precinct officers, and will hear of examples of how individual cops are protecting the public.

 

Just as important to Caldwell-Paris, though, is the time set aside at these meetings for residents to share concerns and ask questions of the precinct leadership. “When you have issues in regards to policing, or any quality of life issues in regards to policing, coming to the [52nd] Precinct Community Council meeting is the most important place,” she said.

At the most recent meeting, on Sept. 24, Alps talked, among other issues, about what the precinct is doing to keep crime down and guns off the streets, the ongoing training of officers, his ongoing monitoring of the use of force by officers through the review of bodycam footage, response times to community calls, the liability concerns that individual officers have while engaging with the community, and he also updated the public on staffing levels, which included a number of retirements and resignations.

 

Alps said compared to the rest of the borough, the precinct was number two in gun arrests. “The borough is struggling in shootings overall, it’s up 126 shootings year to date,” he said. “But, I know in my heart, these officers taking these 72 guns [off the streets] is really suppressing the gun violence in the [52nd] command. And, you know, we have a lot of violence surrounding us in the adjacent command [precinct] and they’re keeping it from spreading.”

 

Alps said the precinct was number two in narcotics arrests, which he said was significant in that the 52nd precinct was also number three in the borough in terms of overdoses. “We had 13 fatal overdoses this year, 33 non-fatal overdoses,” Alps said. “We have a lot of complaints in regards to drug sales in around the [inaudible] and Valentine, and [….] Davidson, around Devoe Park, and the 52nd precinct officers are doing their duties to target those locations, where individuals are selling narcotics and causing these overdoses and deaths, so I’m proud of them in that aspect.”

 

In terms of other arrests, the precinct is number two in DWI [driving with impairment] arrests, number two in rape arrests, number one is robbery arrests, number five in felony assault arrests, number four in burglary arrests, number one in grand larceny arrests, and number one in grand larceny auto arrests.

 

Referring to the 52^nd precinct officers, Alps commended their work. “I’m looking to see if they’re not avoiding their responsibilities, and they’re doing their research on what they’re asked to do, and when an arrest needs to be made, and it’s appropriate, that [they’re] actually making that arrest,” he said.

 

Alps added that there had been 21 less civilian complaints logged at the 52nd precinct compared to last year. According to the latest available Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) monthly report, there were five complaints received by the Board for the 52^nd precinct in August (latest available data). There were three for the 50^th precinct. The Board currently has a total open docket of 2,764 cases citywide.

 

Though an overview of the types of complaints logged for all precincts in the City was included in the report, there was no further breakdown of the actual complaints per precinct, other than the number. Norwood News has reached out to the CCRB for further details.

 

Meanwhile, an internal investigation is still underway at the Bronx District Attorney’s office in relation to the arrest of Bronx teen, Jahmel Leach, 16, by an officer from the 52nd precinct on June 1 on Fordham Road, where police allege the teen had been starting a fire. Jahmel suffered horrific injuries after being allegedly tased three times, and was in danger of losing his teeth. The arrest charges have since been dropped and a lawsuit is pending.

 

Generally, complaints received by the CCRB are classified into four categories: Force, Abuse of Authority, Discourtesy and Offensive Language. According to the report, all complaints are recorded and investigated. In August, the CCRB reported that it substantiated allegations in 40 percent of its fully investigated cases citywide.

 

Under the Force category, sub-categories include Gun pointed, Gun fired, Nightstick as club (incl asp & baton), Gun as club, Radio as club, Flashlight as club, Police shield, Other blunt instrument as a club, Hit against inanimate object, Chokehold, Pepper spray, Physical force, Handcuffs, Nonlethal restraining device, Animal, Other and Restricted Breathing.

 

Also, at the meeting was newly assigned NYPD Chief of Community Affairs, Chief Jeffrey J. Maddrey, one of the highest-ranking African Americans within the NYPD. Maddrey said prior to his recent promotion, he had been based in Brooklyn but that in recent months, he had spent more and more time in the Bronx.

 

“As I’ve been touring around in this new role, meeting many different communities, we’re seeing all the things that are going on in our communities and in our country, and there’s a lot of different things we can talk about in that [inaudible], but the thing that I talked about most of all is what has affected us the most, and that’s gun violence,” he said.

 

He added, “It’s so important that we pull together as communities, and as I’m walking around talking to people, so many people are supportive of the NYPD, despite what we hear in the news and read in the paper.”

 

Maddrey said that with gun violence running amok, and communities dealing with loss of lives, the police department and the community needed to work closely together. He cited the NYPD’s ongoing commitment to removing guns from the streets. “I think it was two weeks ago – 173 guns, the week before that – 160 guns. It just shows you the proliferation of guns,” he said.

 

He then encouraged the community to support the police. “Sometimes, the job can be thankless, and it’s always dangerous but you have cops out there that are dedicated to protecting each and every one of you,” he said.

 

For those interested in attending a meeting of the 52^nd Community Council, they typically take place on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. More information can be obtained by calling the 52nd Precinct Community Affairs office at 718-220-5824.

 

*Síle Moloney contributed additional reporting to this story.