Watch CBS News

NYPD Cops Flood High-Crime Areas In 'Summer All Out' Initiative

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD began a major effort Monday to combat a spike in violent crime.

For the first time in nearly two decades, crime statistics show shootings in the city are up for a second straight year.

"As we expect, when the warm weather comes, we see an increase in certain crimes," Chief of Department James O'Neill said earlier this month. "We're struggling with homicides and shootings."

To help change that, the department is launching its "Summer All Out" program a full month ahead of schedule.

Under the program, 330 police officers will leave administrative duties to patrol 10 precincts where shootings and murders are up.

NYPD's 'Summer All Out' Program Will Flood High-Crime Areas With Officers

Areas targeted include the 81st Precinct in Bedford-Stuyvesant, the 44th Precinct in the Bronx, the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville, the 52nd Precinct in the Bronx and the 67th Precinct in East Flatbush.

In addition to certain precincts, the program also targets high-crime housing complexes. Participating officers will patrol during peak crime shifts of 4 p.m. to midnight and midnight to 8 a.m.

"I've gotten robbed in broad daylight," Janelle Diaz of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, told CBS2's Marcia Kramer on Monday. "A lot of people don't seem to realize that things do happen in broad daylight. It's not just the night time."

The launch comes amid a 19.5 percent spike in murders from this time last year.

Kramer met Patty Coppolino of Williamsburg, who explained the desperate measures she's taking to stay safe while walking the streets.

Kramer: "How do you feel when you walk on the street?"

Coppolino: "I feel unsafe. I have mace now."

Kramer: "You have mace right now when you're going to the supermarket? Wow. How long have you been carrying that?"

Coppolino: "Since all this has been going on, since I feel unsafe."

CBS2's Diane Macedo asked people in East New York, Brooklyn. what they thought of the initiative.

"More cops make it more safe," one man said.

"I think it's great to have more officers out because there's a lot of things going on now," said another woman.

"I think it's really helpful because, lately, I've really noticed a lot of crimes and a lot of incidents happening," East New York resident Nathaniel Talavera said.

But some residents said the city needs to do more.

"They need to put more stop-and-frisk because there a lot of young people running around with guns in their hands and stuff like that," one woman said. "They really, really need to bring it back."

"You removed stop-and-frisk and it has not worked," said Natasha Christopher, whose 14-year-old son Akeal died in a shooting. "There are more children dying, there are parents burying their children when it shouldn't be happening."

Others disagree.

"They stopped and frisked me and it didn't make me feel any type of way, like 'oh let me think twice before I do something,'" said Rahshawn Gilmore of East New York. "It was just like, 'Why are you trying to incriminate me?' I live in this neighborhood for more than 17 years and it's like somebody new just approaching me out of nowhere."

Last year, the number of shooting victims dropped 26 percent in targeted areas. The NYPD has high hopes for the program this time around.

"The bad old days aren't just around the corner. They're not coming back. We're not going to let them come back," Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said. "We live in a city that is a very safe city, (but) not for everybody, unfortunately, and not for every neighborhood and that's what we're striving to do. We're trying for every neighborhood to give a sense of security."

Police have emphasized that crime overall, including property crime and assault, is down 6 percent so far this year.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.