An annual stakeholders event honoring award recipients was held on Wednesday, April 21, as part of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi’s successful CureViolence program, called Stand Up To Violence (SUV). During the ceremony, the work of dedicated community partners was acknowledged, the progress made over the past year was on display, and the plan for peace in the year ahead was discussed.

 

Present at the COVID-19 compliant event, which took place at Bronxwood International Church, located 3232 Lurting Avenue in the East Bronx, were NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi’s Stand Up To Violence (SUV) team, Pastor Jay Gooding, Assembly Member Nathalia Fernández, and other honored guests. The event was open to the public.

 

The following people were honored: Zoraida Diaz, who was presented with the Rev. Dr Sidney Hargrave Clergy Award, Assistant Commissioner Ramon Garcia, who was given the Community Awareness Award, Det. Inspector Keon Ramsey, Officer James Graham, Officer Varnisha Hyman, Officer Jayson Soto, and Det. Dave Belle, who were given the Community Partnership Law Enforcement Award, Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernández, who was given the Community Partnership Elected Official Award, Desirée Guzman, who was given the Hospital Partnership Award and Elder Patricia Iriebi, who was given the Stakeholders Appreciation Certificate.

 

As reported by Norwood News, according to the latest NYPD crime statistics, the Bronx recently recorded 27 homicides in 2021, compared to 22 during the same time period in 2020. The number for 2021 has since increased to 34 as of April 25. Police crime statistics also show that 125 people have been shot this year in the Bronx as of April 25, compared with 55 during the same time period last year.

 

 

In the 52nd precinct, which covers Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights, there has been one murder so far in 2021, as reported by Norwood News, while none were recorded during the same period in 2020. Meanwhile, there have been ten shooting victims in the precinct so far in 2021, versus three during the same period last year.  In terms of hate crimes, one has been reported in the precinct so far this year versus none for the same time period last year.

In the 50th precinct, which covers Riverdale, Fieldston, Kingsbridge, Marble Hill, and Spuyten Duyvil, and includes Wave Hill and Cortlandt Park, to date, there have been no murders in 2021, while one was recorded during the same period in 2020. Three shooting victims have been recorded in the precinct, versus three during the same time period last year. Meanwhile, hate crimes were equal, with one hate crime reported so far in the precinct in 2021 and one having been recorded during the same time period last year.

In the 47th precinct, which covers Woodlawn, Wakefield, Williamsbridge, Baychester, Edenwald, Olinville, Fishbay, and Woodlawn Cemetary, three murders were recorded in 2021, as of April 25, versus seven in 2020 during the same time period. In terms of shooting victims, there have been 17 in the precinct, year to date, versus six during the same period last year. There was one hate crime recorded in the precinct in 2021, and none were reported in 2020.

 

On Monday, April 18, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea announced the creation of a new hate crime review panel, a partnership with a diverse panel of community leaders as part of the NYPD’s efforts to curb hate crimes.

 

A number of gun buyback events were held in the borough last year in efforts to remove guns from the streets, as reported by Norwood News, in addition to a number of separate anti-gun violence rallies, including one last October in Bedford Park.

 

Meanwhile, we also reported in January how one Bronx based anti gun violence advocate was arrested and charged in January 2021 with fatally shooting a man last summer.

 

More recently, the 52nd precinct is currently employing a new tactic when it comes to addressing and attempting to curb gun violence in one concentrated grid of blocks in the Fordham Manor section of the Bronx by organizing clean-ups, addressing quality of life issues, and more recently, by organizing a jobs fair.

 

Last year, in the lead-up to the presidential election, we also, in conjunction with with WFUV and BronxNet, as part of a five-part election related series, looked at the general topic of crime and criminal justice in the Bronx.