Five years after the death of Eric Garner at the hands of an NYPD officer, we asked readers their thoughts on current police-community relations.

I think it’s a little better. The community is getting a little closer to the police as they are around a little bit more now. I think the time that passed has helped the healing, definitely. Things are much better now, of course. Crime is down and the police are doing their job.
Gilbert Rodriguez
Norwood

When it comes to the 52nd Precinct, I see they are definitely trying to make a difference. They are coming out here a lot more than they used to. They’re always out here with the community, even up the block. Sometimes you’ll see them hanging out with the kids, playing basketball, and stuff like that. So it’s good to see them in the community and actually caring about the community instead of just policing it.
Sandy Carattini
Norwood

I believe the relationship is a little stronger, but I think the police need more sensitivity training because I feel they value their lives more than the people they’re serving. So I think they need more training to control their anger and their aggressions. I think they should live in the same community they serve. Everybody works in the same community; why shouldn’t the police? If you had a policeman living next door to you, that would be an extra person you could go to for help. The 52nd Precinct is very good; I have no complaints about them. They could look into some of the minor stuff like breaking into cars. This area really isn’t very violent.
Kyle Smith
Norwood

In my opinion the relationship between the police and the community has gotten much worse over the years. It should gradually get better, but that’s not something we have seen. I think it’s a lack of training with certain officers. I think they should all go back for re-training on how they are supposed to conduct themselves and treat the public. I was violated by an officer from the [46th Precinct]. They violated my Miranda rights and in the end I did three days in Central Booking with two fractured ribs. Officers do not know how to react in some situations when it comes to the public.
Carlos Maria
Mt. Hope

Reflecting on this administration’s performance when it comes to directives of equitable treatment between people of color and people of non-color and the NYPD, it remains clear that there is much work left to do. Police relations in black communities continue to create fear and hesitance among residents and visitors. As a criminal justice activist and organizer, it was most disheartening to experience violence at the hands of my own precinct in November 2018.  Unfortunately, black bodies continue to be over criminalized for everyday occurrences. We need resources and funding in our communities, not more cages and state-sanctioned violence.
Shanequa M. Charles
Fordham

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.