This week, we asked readers for their opinions on the NYPD’s recent implementation of the split of the former Patrol Borough Bronx (344 employees) into north (275 employees) and south (275 employees) divisions, as announced earlier this year, bringing around 100 additional officers to each of the new north and south command centers. NYPD Assistant Chief Aneudy Castillo has been named as the new head / commanding officer of Patrol Borough Bronx North. Assistant Chief Brian C. Hennessy would be running Patrol Borough Bronx South (PBXS).

 

As reported, former NYPD Assistant Chief Benjamin D. Gurley had been appointed to run Patrol Borough Bronx North (PBXN), but on Sunday, May 24, Gurley was reportedly involved in an off-duty shooting in Rockland County. An NYPD spokesperson said of the incident, “On Sunday night, an NYPD executive was involved in an off-duty incident in the Town of Haverstraw. The Haverstraw Police Department is leading the investigation into that incident. The matter is also under review by the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division and Internal Affairs Bureau. The executive’s duty status is modified.”

 

Norwood News reached out to Gurley’s union in efforts to reach his legal representation for comment on the incident. We did not receive an immediate response but will share any updates we receive. Gurley is presumed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law.

 

Read more here, here and here.

“Well, I think it depends on what they focus on. More cops alone isn’t really going to solve the problem. There’s a lot of things where the cops don’t respond right now, even when they’re around. So, I guess it really depends on decision-making at the precinct level about what they are going to focus on; just having more cops is not the answer. The cops that we have now aren’t even doing what they should be doing. They are not handling traffic properly; they’re not doing citations. I see a lot of cops just standing around all over the borough.”

David Knapp,

Riverdale

“If it helps bring down crime, I’m all for it. Unfortunately, crime has obviously been a rapid issue with The Bronx. It’s one of the things we’ve been infamous about for so many years. The North Bronx actually has less crime, particularly once you get past Fordham (Road), but there’s still a lot of problems. We get discounted at how many issues we really have in our community.”

George Diaz, Jr.,

Norwood

“Additional police presence may help with response and visibility, but real safety in Bedford Park and Norwood also comes from investing in community programs, youth opportunity, and quality of life.”

Elizabeth Quaranta,

Bedford Park

“I did hear that, and I’ve been seeing a lot of police on White Plains Road from about East 219 Street up to East 233 Street. I think it is a good start, but I would like to see a bit more visibility up to East 241 Street.”

Mary O’Shaughnessy,

Wakefield

“I do like the plan; I hope it does work, but I don’t think it is going to have a great impact because of attrition. Too many are leaving, and the [100] coming is just a drop in the bucket. I also think that a precinct as big as the 45^th needs to be split into two. Logically, how can you cover emergencies from as far up as Co-Op City to Throggs Neck or Ferry Point or Westchester Square? Plus, there is Bay Plaza. The 45^th Precinct is the largest precinct geographically. As far as splitting between north and south units, I really hope that helps each commander who now deals with a smaller zone instead of the whole Bronx.”

Debby Kawalick,

Morris Park

 

Editor’s Note: Norwood News reached out to the NYPD for comment on this feature. We will share any feedback we receive.

 

In early June, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted that overall citywide major crime was down in May, and the new Patrol Borough Bronx South command similarly saw a decrease in year-to-date index crimes in May. However, conversely, much of the Northwest Bronx (52nd, 50th and 46th Precincts) saw a rise in year-to-date crime in several major categories. Norwood News asked the commissioner if she had any comments in that regard during a press conference on Monday, June 15, 2026.

 

“The crime declines that we have seen generally, in the borough of the Bronx, particularly in the South Bronx, have really been historic across the borough so far this year,” Tisch said in part. “Of course, there are always going to be problem areas, problem precincts, and that’s why we use the CompStat process (NYPD crime data collection tool), and we do deployments of officers to places where we’re seeing crime go up.”

 

George Diaz Jr. ran unsuccessfully for New York State in A.D. 81 in 2022.