What Happened When a Brooklyn Neighborhood Policed Itself for Five Days
Brownsville, a historically dangerous neighborhood in Brooklyn, saw a dramatic decrease in crime when the community took over policing for five days.
By The New York Times | January 31, 2012 4:00 AM EST
Brownsville, located in east Brooklyn, has long been one of New York City's most dangerous neighborhoods. But even as crime rates reached record lows in the city as a whole, Brownsville remained a hotbed of violence. In 1993, there were 74 homicides and 304 shootings in a two-square-mile radius of Brownsville. Last year, there were 14 homicides and 47 shootings.
In an effort to address the ongoing violence, the NYPD launched a new initiative in Brownsville in April. The initiative, called "Operation Clean Sweep," involved flooding the neighborhood with police officers and cracking down on low-level crimes. The goal was to create a sense of order and deter potential criminals.
Operation Clean Sweep was successful in reducing crime in the short term. In the two weeks following the launch of the initiative, there were no homicides or shootings in Brownsville. However, as the police presence dwindled, crime rates began to rise again.
In response to the resurgence of crime, the community of Brownsville decided to take matters into its own hands. On April 26, a group of residents organized a five-day "neighborhood watch" patrol. The volunteers patrolled the streets, looking for suspicious activity and reporting it to the police.
The neighborhood watch patrol was a success. During the five days of the patrol, there were no homicides or shootings in Brownsville. The community also reported a decrease in other types of crime, such as robberies and burglaries.
The success of the neighborhood watch patrol shows that the community can play a vital role in reducing crime. When residents take an active role in policing their own neighborhoods, they can create a sense of order and deter potential criminals.
Comments