Crime

NYPD Crime Map Hearing Expected

  by David Cruz  Hearings are in the works over the NYPD Crime Map, the newly released digital map pinpointing where crime has occurred. The map was born out of a years-long investigation from the Norwood News, which inspired recently enacted legislation.

Out on Errands, Teen Murdered on Jerome Avenue

Michael Beltre, a 17-year-old high school student who recently moved to the Bronx from the Dominican Republic, was murdered last night in front of 2622 Jerome Ave. just after 7 p.m. Police say Beltre was shot in the face and transported to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Bronx Girl Comes Home to Head 5-2

The mood was bittersweet last week as Inspector Joseph Dowling tearfully removed his 52nd Precinct Commanding Officer’s pin and handed it off to Nilda Hofmann, a hometown girl who grew up in the community she will now oversee.

Free After-School Journalism Program in the Bronx (Applications Due Friday!)

Above is a link to an interview with me, Bronx Youth Heard Director and Norwood News Editor Alex Kratz, and Lehman High School student Adonis Jimenez for a Bronx 2.0 segment that aired on Bronxnet in February. Everything I talk about in that segment remains true. Bronx Youth Heard is a fantastic program for students interested in journalism or who love to write or who want to have impact on their communities and think (like we do) that journalism is a way to make that happen.

New Five-Two Commander To Be Introduced Tonight

Inspector Joseph Dowling is moving on from his post as commander of the Bronx’s 52nd Precinct. But first, he will introduce his replacement, Nilda Hofmann, at tonight’s Precinct Community Council meeting at St. James Episcopal Church (2500 Jerome Ave., across the street from Monroe College), which starts at 7 p.m.

Council Overrides Bloomberg’s Veto of the Community Safety Act

The New York City Council overrode Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s veto of the Community Safety Act last month, striking a massive blow to the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policy. Although the City Council had passed the Community Safety Act in June, both bills were vetoed by Bloomberg in July.

Man Survives After Shooting Himself Inside St. Brendan’s Church

A 53-year-old man shot himself in chest inside the sanctuary at St. Brendan’s Church in Norwood this morning, police said. The man, who wasn’t recognized by church leaders as a member or frequent visitor, is expected to survive and is being treated at St. Barnabas Hospital.

Bronx Officials Applaud Ruling That Stop-and-Frisk Is Unconstitutional

Neighborhood Notes: Free Immigration Service
In ruling on two class-action lawsuits last week, federal Judge Shira Scheindlin blasted the New York City Police Department’s rampant use of stop-and-frisk tactics as unconstitutional and appointed a federal monitor to oversee reform efforts — a move that several Bronx lawmakers supported and the mayor vehemently opposed.