Push On For More Police Patrols In Midwood, Borough Park After Terror Attacks Across Europe
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Following a recent wave of anti-Semitic attacks across Europe, people in Brooklyn are worried about their streets, their schools and their synagogues, and say now is the time to hire additional protection.
On the streets of Midwood and Borough Park, fears of anti-Semitic terrorism have people demanding more security, CBS2's Dick Brennan reported Thursday.
"I think it would be good if they were visible and if you need them you know where to get them," Midwood resident Sarah Benjamin told Brennan.
Push On For More Police Patrols In Midwood, Borough Park After Terror Attacks Across Europe
"We want to see more police protection and we want to see more peace in the world," Midwood resident Esther Nobel added.
"There's an increase in terrorism all over the world, including here, and you worry about what could happen," Midwood resident Jacob Neiss said.
"People here in my community after Paris are saying 'how do we deal with this? How do we protect ourselves?,'" Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) said.
Since the murder of two New York City police officers in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Hikind says police patrols have effectively been cut in half because officers now always work in pairs, Brennan reported.
"We have a great police force, but that police force has shrunk because you need two in all situations," Hikind said. "And what used to be the case that you had one police driving down the street in a little vehicle, is not happening."
Hikind said scooter patrols have also been cut, along with auxiliaries, because they are unarmed, leaving people with a sense of insecurity, Brennan reported.
He said he understands that police have to protect themselves, but added now the community has to step up.
"We need to do everything in our power. The police are one thing, but a lot of people are talking about armed security guards throughout our community," Hikind said.
Hikind didn't say how hiring armed security guards would work.
In response to Hikind's concerns, the NYPD said in a statement, "We regularly assess our special attention coverage based on our threat assessments and it is evaluated on a case by case basis."
The NYPD has also said it has bolstered protection in sensitive locations like synagogues, Brennan reported.
In the meantime, Hikind said he'd like to work with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton to find new ways to keep people safe.
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