November 2009 Meeting Minutes

70th Precinct Community Council
November 2009 Meeting Minutes

E-mail: 70PctCC@gmail.com
Blog: http://70PctCC.blogspot.com
________________________________________
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
7:30 PM
United Cerebral Palsy New York
175 Lawrence Street, Brooklyn, New York
________________________________________


Officers Present

Ed Powell, President
Beverley Kilpatrick, Vice President
Rosanne Boland, Treasurer
Mary McRae, Secretary
Nathan Thompson, Assistant Secretary
Mavis Theodore, Sergeant-at-Arms


NYPD, Elected Officials & Other Guests

Inspector Ralph Monteforte, Commanding Officer
Captain Giovanelli, Executive Officer
Det. Dominick Scotto, Community Affairs
P.O. Kim Walker, Community Affairs
Lt. Jacqueline Bourne, Community Affairs
Doris Ortíz, District Manager, Community Board 14
Chaim Deutsch for Council Member Mike Nelson
Harvey Rosenholtz for Council Member Kendall Stewart
Shawn Campbell for Assembly Member Jim Brennan
Roz Sokol for Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz
Eli Slavin for Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
Wendy Ann Powell for Assembly Member Rhoda Jacobs
Pinny Ringel for Council Member Simca Felder
Asghar Choudry, Pakistan American Merchants
Elaine Beal, District Attorney’s Office
David Kleistick, District Attorney’s Office
Fr. Michael Perry, 70th Precinct Clergy Liaison
Rev. Jean Beaulieu, 70th Precinct Clergy Liaison
Maria Hazelwood, East 21st Street Block Association
Bob Moskowitz, Flatbush Shomrim


________________________________________

The regular meeting of the 70th Precinct Community Council was called to order at 7:50 p.m. President Ed Powell greeted all and invited everyone to join him in the Presentation of Colors by the 70th Precinct Explorers followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. President Powell then acknowledged the various representatives of elected officials and other distinguished guests present at the meeting (see above).

1. Message from Council Member Kendall Stewart – Harvey Rosenholtz
Council Member Kendall Stewart wanted to thank everyone for their support throughout the years; he also spoke to Council Member-elect Jumaane Williams and asked him to support the 70th Precinct. As a resident of the 70th precinct he understands and respects the difficult job the 70th Precinct does every day.

2. Message from Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz – Roz Sokol
On behalf of Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz, Roz Sokol expressed deep appreciation for all that the 70th Precinct does and wished everyone a healthy and happy Thanksgiving.

3. Pakistanian Merchants Association – Asgher Choudri represents the Pakistanian community for Brooklyn South and the 70th precinct. He commended Commander Monteforte for his concerns about their community. He also acknowledged his appreciation for Officer Shawn Lipstein and expressed that he will miss him very much.

4. Message from Doris Ortiz. C.B. 14 District Manager Doris Ortiz greeted everyone and assured the council that she is always there to support the council, Inspector Monteforte and 70th precinct. She acknowledge Sgt. Jovita Richardson as a great person to work with and a wonderful community affairs officer and wished her well on her promotion and many more years of happiness in the police department. She also acknowledged her special friend P.O. Shawn Lipstein whom she knows on a personal and professional level. She said that she will miss officer Lipstein tremendously. He has always been there when she needed him. May his retirement bring him many more years of happiness and good health.

5. President Powell took a moment to thank Flatbush Shomrim for their continuing support of the council.

6. Report from the Commanding Officer. Commander Monteforte acknowledged our clergy liaisons in the community. He also announced that awards will be presented for; graffiti clean-up, getting guns off the streets, running into a burning building and taking out children, retirement and promotions. He stated that he was lucky to be working with this group of cops in the precinct and lucky to be working with this community.

Awards:

SergeantTom Kennedy, Anti Crime
Officer William Fields
Officer Jason Rosciano
Officer Irene Guevara
On Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. the officers were on patrol when they heard shots being fired on Flatbush Avenue and Albemarle Road. They saw a group and a male with a firearm was running from the group. Sgt. Kennedy and Officer Fields joined in on foot pursuit. The chase went on for three blocks. He made a U turn and Officer Rosciano and Officer Guevara were able to corner the individual. After an intense heated standoff the individual complied with the officers’ commands and dropped a loaded .380 caliber firearm. Because of the professionalism of the officers involved, there were no injuries.

Officer Robert Clark
Sergeant Walter Roberts, Anti-Crime
Officer Leonard Clarke
On Thursday, September 10th, 2009 at 10:30 p.m. Sergeant Roberts and Officer Clark were traveling northbound on Ocean Avenue when they observed two suspicious males coming out of 485 Ocean Avenue carrying a large knapsack. Observing what appeared to be the barrel of a rifle protruding out of the knapsack, they notified the anti crime unit for back up. Once the officers were there they took quick action and apprehended both perpetrators who were in possession of a .22 caliber assault rifle and a Tech 9 machine gun.

Officer Noor Mizbah
Officer Sheldon Lessey
At the end of the summer on a Saturday night after midnight while most people were sleeping a call comes over that someone was shot near East 14th Street and Avenue H. Without a description, these officers were driving around in the perimeter where they felt the bad guy might try to escape. They were on Coney Island Avenue and saw the perpetrator and his friend trying to get into a cab and then trying to get onto a bus. They realized that these two guys looked suspicious trying to get into a cab then onto a bus. They stopped them before they got on the bus and detained them as suspects in the shooting.

Sergeant Eddie Kraemer
Officer Timothy Stines
Last week at 3:00 p.m. the officers were in a pizzeria and observed smoke coming from a third floor window. Officer Stines escorted a woman and an infant out of the building while Sgt. Kraemer went to each floor to evacuate people who might have been trapped or overcome by smoke. After exiting the building both officers went back in with fire extinguishers attempting to put out the fire which was out of control. Sgt. Kraemer was treated for an injury to the face. In severe panic a parent ran into building thinking his child was inside. However, the child was not inside and the officers had to go back into the building to get the father out. Everyone got out of the building with only minor injuries to Sgt. Kraemer.

Officer John Labosco
Officer Damon McMillon
These are our graffiti officers in the precinct. Not only do they combat graffiti and lock up guys that commit graffiti, they are in our Conditions Unit. They lock up people for crimes ranging from the simplest offenses to gun collars. Since they have been in charge, they have doubled the number of arrests. They made about 77 arrests this year of graffiti artist. When they investigate graffiti, they have to identify the graffiti and find out the person that drew it, find out the signature or tag, go to the kids house and interview the parents, get the kids to come in and get confessions. He thanked them for taking the graffiti artists off the streets but also for helping the community look better. If you have any graffiti near your house or notice it on any property please notify the 70th Precinct. They will investigate and hopefully catch the individuals.

Maritza Barnett
Maritza works as a civilian employee of the 70th Precinct in charge of one of the most demanding units, the Crime Analyst Unit. The 70th Precinct raised and donated over $8,000 for this year’s Cancer Walk, held on October 18th. Maritza was one of the leaders and collected over $3,000 for the event.

Sergeant Jovita Richardson
Fifteen years as a police officer, she came on in 1994. She has been assigned to the 70th precinct since September 12th, 1994. She does not have one CCRB (Civilian Complaint Review Board) complaint, which is incredible. She has worked patrol as well as SNEU (Street Narcotics Enforcement Unit,) a unit that has been instrumental in taking drug dealers off the streets. She also worked in arrest processing, community policing and as a youth officer. She has been assigned as a community affairs officer since October of 2002. She has been instrumental is assisting the community with donations, family bereavements, holiday parties, and countless other community based activities. She was honored by her bosses, her peers, and the community as she takes her next step in her career in becoming a Sergeant. Commander Monteforte stated she will be truly missed. Commander Monteforte also acknowledged Leslyn Stewart, wife of slain officer, Dillon Stewart and thanked her for coming. Mrs. Stewart wanted to thank Sgt. Richardson for being a great support for her and thanked her for all that she has done.

P.O. Shawn Lipstein
Appointed to the police department October 15th, 1990 and assigned to the 70th Precinct on April 15th, 1991. He patrolled the streets of the 70th Precinct for many years and was unexpectedly drafted into the task force. After two months he was able to find his way back to the 70th Precinct where his heart belonged. Shawn was instrumental in the design and construction of the crime information center. It is a unit within the precinct that identifies the bad guys within the precinct’s boundaries. Instead of the cops going out blindly they know where to go and who to look for. Due to his managerial qualities, strong organizational skills and his ability to work together with others, he was assigned to supervise the command’s auxiliary police unit. Commander Monteforte stated that he will be missed tremendously; he is a great person, a great father, a great friend, he has a great family. Everyone at the 70th precinct wishes all the best to him and his family.

On behalf of Congresswoman Yvette Clark, Eli Slavin presented P.O. Shawn Lipstein with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for outstanding and valuable service to the community.

Council Member Elect Jumanne Williams thanked everyone for their support. He is excited to get started and working for the entire community. He stated that we are one community and we have to come together to make sure that it is the best community it could possibly be. He met with Council Member Stewart and believes that the transition will go smoothly. He congratulated Officer Jovita Richardson for her promotion and Officer Shawn Lipstein on his retirement.

Commander Monteforte acknowledged Father Perry and thanked him for his support. He also acknowledged David Kleistick from the DA’s office and explained his role in the DA’s office. He thanked him for his support because the bad guys are getting the proper sentences and this is another reason why crimes are down. Commander Monteforte acknowledged Captain Giovanelli and Captain Pascal of Brooklyn South and thanked them for their support.

7. Open Forum with Inspector Monteforte and Responses.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary McRae
Nathan Thompson

December 2009 Meeting

Due to the upcoming holidays, our next meeting will be on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 7:30 PM in the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City's Community Room at 175 Lawrence Avenue.

October 2009 Meeting Minutes

70th Precinct Community Council
October 2009 Meeting Minutes

E-mail: 70PctCC@gmail.com
Blog: http://70PctCC.blogspot.com
________________________________________

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
7:30 PM
United Cerebral Palsy of New York
175 Lawrence Avenue, Brooklyn, New York
________________________________________

Officers Present

Ed Powell, President
Mary McRae, Secretary
Nathan Thompson, Asst. Secretary


NYPD, Elected Officials & Other Guests

Inspector Ralph Monteforte, Commanding Officer
Captain Peter Venice, Executive Officer
Lt. Jacqueline Bourne, Community Affairs
Det. Dominick Scotto, Community Affairs
Captain Tom Pascal, Brooklyn South Narcotics Unit
Tim Mercer, Community Affairs
David Z. Klestick, District Attorney’s Office
Elaine Beal, District Attorney’s Office
John Reef for Assembly Member Jim Brennan
Roz Sokol for Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz
Reuven Lipkind for Senator Eric Adams
Pinny Ringel, Council Member Simca Felder
Glen Wolin, CERT
________________________________________

The regular meeting of the 70th Precinct Community Council was called to order at 7:50 p.m. President Ed Powell greeted all and invited everyone to join him in the Presentation of Colors by the 70th Precinct Explorers followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. President Powell then acknowledged the various representatives of elected officials and other distinguished guests present at the meeting (see above).


1. Report from President Ed Powell. The minutes of September 30th, 2009 were distributed and accepted on a motion made by President Powell and seconded by Roz Sokol with the necessary corrections should there be any. Motion carried. President Powell received a letter from Councilman Simca Felder and stated that Councilman Felder has been a long time supporter of the Community Council. In the letter Councilman Felder stated that in spite of all the fiscal challenges the city has been through he was able to allocate $3,500 to the 70th Precinct Community Council. He also expressed his deepest gratitude for what the Community Council does for the community.

2. Report from the Commanding Officer. Commander Monteforte asked if anyone remembered the horrific crime on Parkside Avenue three weeks before whereas three people were shot and there was a video of the three people getting shot in which a 19 year old kid died from that incident. The Mayor’s office has approved along with the police department a $12,000.00 reward for the arrest of the individual. Hopefully, they would be able to use the video to identify the individual so that they can get him off the streets as quickly as possible.

Commander Monteforte stated that if you know anyone with a firearm call 1-866-GUN-STOP because they offer rewards of $1,000 for anonymous information that leads to the arrest of individuals in possession of illegal firearms. He assured everyone that it is confidential and you don’t have to go to court. He announced that there were cards available in the back if anyone needed or speak to Detective Molloy.

Commander Monteforte asked everyone to be careful with their children on Halloween. He stated there are several websites you can go on to know where the sexual predators live in the community so that children know whose doors they are knocking on to avoid parents from filing a missing report. If the children have nothing to do that day, there are several walks in the precinct. Nathan Thompson will be doing a walk at Albemarle and Westminister Road at 5:00 p.m. and at 6:30 he and other officers were doing a walk on Glenwood Road and Coney Island Avenue. The precinct handed out leaflets to all the storeowners to not sell eggs and shaving cream to kids so that they don’t mess up the neighborhoods. He also stressed that they will be treating Friday like Halloween as well and they all will be working both days.

Commander Monteforte stated they had flyers in the back for holiday safety tips so that you can avoid becoming a victim of a crime. He commended a resident from Strafford Road for putting a block association together. The more people that can form block associations, the better for the police department so that they will be better able to help with the problems in the community.

Commander Monteforte made an important announcement; Community Affairs Officer Jovita Richardson was promoted to Sergeant and would be leaving the precinct. She has been in the precinct for 16 years and has served the community well. He stated regardless of the numerous times anyone called including himself, she was always there. She started as a patrol officer and in 2001 she joined Community Affairs. He commended her on doing a great job and she would be surely missed.

Commander Monteforte acknowledged Captain Peter Venice his partner in the precinct who helps him run it and Captain Tom Pascal from narcotics.

3. Cops of the Month: Sgt. Joseph Durante, P.O. Higgins, P.O.Vlad Green, P.O. Joseph Imperatrice. The Conditions Team received an award. It is comprised of two sergeants and about 17 officers. This year alone they locked up over 600 people and 40% of those people were dealing narcotics. This month, this team did a terrific job on two incidents. On Tuesday, the 20th of the month at approximately 9:25 on Farragut and Bedford Sgt. Durante and Higgins were on routine patrol when they observed two individuals on the corner on Bedford Avenue and after investigation apprehended both individuals for robbing an elderly woman at gunpoint for $4.00. About a week after that incident at approximately 8:45 p.m. Sgt. Durante Officers Imperatrice and Green responded to another gunpoint robbery. Upon arrival, officers interviewed the victim and were given detailed description of the two suspects who had robbed him of his iPhone. Later the suspects were identified in a line up.

4. Open forum with Commander Monteforte and Responses.

President Powell announced that due to the Thanksgiving holiday, our next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 18, 2009.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary McRae, Secretary
Nathan Thompson, Assistant Secretary

November 2009 Meeting

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, our next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 7:30 PM in the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City's Community Room at 175 Lawrence Avenue.

September 2009 Meeting Minutes

70th Precinct Community Council
September 2009 Meeting Minutes

E-mail: 70PctCC@gmail.com
Blog: http://70PctCC.blogspot.com
________________________________________
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
7:30 PM

140 Lawrence Street, Brooklyn, New York
________________________________________


Officers Present

Ed Powell, President
Beverley Kilpatrick, Vice President
Rosanne Boland, Treasurer
Mary McRae, Recording Secretary
Nathan Thompson, Corresponding Secretary
Mavis Theodore, Sergeant-at-Arms


NYPD, Elected Officials & Other Guests

Inspector Ralph Monteforte, Commanding Officer
Captain Peter Venice, Executive Officer
Lt. Jacqueline Bourne, Community Affairs
Doris Ortíz, District Manager, Community Board 14
Harvey Rosenholtz, Council Member Kendall Stewart
Shaun Campbell, Assembly Member Jim Brennan
Roz Sokol for Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz
Eli Slavin for Congresswoman Yvette Clarke
Wendy Ann Powell for Assembly Member Rhoda Jacobs
Mark Dicos, Church Avenue Business Improvement District


________________________________________

The regular meeting of the 70th Precinct Community Council was called to order at 7:45 p.m. President Ed Powell greeted all and invited everyone to join him in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. President Powell sadly announced that over the summer we lost our former corresponding secretary and long standing community activist Laura James. Commander Monteforte spoke of Laura James commitment to the community and asked for a moment of silence in her memory. Mr. Powell then acknowledged the various representatives of elected officials and other distinguished guests present at the meeting (see above).

1. Message from Assemblywoman Rhoda Jacobs – Wendy Ann Powell
Rhoda Jacobs wanted to give an important message; she has a intergenerational program called Jacob’s Ladder in which she take seniors on trips and cultural events. Also, on Sunday, October 18th there will be a Cancer Walk, and if anyone would like to join them please contact their office. Mrs. Powell also took up a donation for the Cancer Walk.

2. Report from President Ed Powell. President Powell introduced Gus Caracappa and James Denofrio of Blair Mazzabella Funeral Home on Coney Island Avenue and commended them for on covering the cost of two funerals for families that lost their child in a tragedy. He also praised them for the beautiful job they had done for Laura James. The two men received a Memorial Thank You Award from the 70th Precinct Community Council.

3. Message from Doris Ortiz. Community Board 14 next meeting wd be October 19th at PS 249 on Caton Avenue – Public Hearing on the Budget. She stated she was happy to support the precinct and to hear all the issues and if there is anything Community Board 14 can help with please contact their office.

4. East 10th Street Block Association presented the Community Council with a decorative plate in appreciation of their services and asked for their continued support.

5. Report from the Commanding Officer. Commander Monteforte stated that anytime you want to see how the precinct is doing you can go online www.nyc.gov/nypd. Commander Monteforte went over the recent crime statistics which indicate that we are doing triple the reduction pace of last year. Last year we were down 5%. This year, we are down 15%. These are current numbers for the whole year to date. The only crime that the precinct is up on is stolen cars (GLA) which is up by 11 stolen cars for the year. He stated that there are a lot less victims in this precinct than last year.

Note: Percentage of Crimes down in the 70th Precinct (Jan. 1st. to Sept. 27, 2009)

Robberies 27%
Rape 64%
Murders 5%
Felony Assault 10%
Grand Larceny 14%

Commander Monteforte stated one of the reasons crime is down is because of Captain Pascal of Brooklyn South Narcotics and commended Captain Pascal for their work in getting drug dealers and drug buyers off the streets. He stated Captain Pascal takes all of our complaints very seriously. The problems sometimes stem from drug dealing. Captain Pascal and his officers and supervisors conducted an operation called Operational Spinal Tap for the past 25 months and investigated two drug organizations on 21st Street and bought over $10,000 worth of crack off of these dealers. They made 75 arrests. These drug dealers will be charged with multiple sales. We owe our gratitude to Brooklyn South Narcotics.

Commander Monteforte gave special recognition to Detective Agapito ‘Junior’ Soler, Detective Hector Rodriguez and an undercover cop for the role they played in the 25 month long investigation of Operational Spinal Tap.

6. Cops of the Month: P.O. Matthew Collyer and P.O. Christopher Niemeyer
Officers Collyer and Niemeyer were on routine patrol when they responded to a call from central to rescue a two year old baby that fell out of a third story window. They were commended for their valiant attempts to save the life of the infant. They also attended the funeral and spent the day with the family.

Commander Monteforte stated that for the first time in many years, there were not shootings in the 3 day period of the Jouvert Celebration. There were six crimes for the three (3) day weekend, domestic violence and two (2) police officers got hurt.

Commander Monteforte gave a citation to Lt. Ferber, Sgt. Kocher and several officers of the Anti Crime Unit for taking another gun collar off the streets.

The Commander also recognized Joe "The Chef" Basso for selflessly committing his time and being there for events when the PCC needed him.

Commander Monteforte prepared a Power Point presentation to show after the general meeting so that those that lived on Cortelyou Road can know what’s going on within their area.

7. Open Forum with Inspector Monteforte.

Members of Ditmas Park West and Prospect Park South made a complaint about garbage cans being stolen.

Members of one Temple asked why there was a lack of police presence on holidays. Monteforte explained that we have 80 Temples in the 70th and that if there is not a dedicated Officer on a given day, then there are cars going back and forth between the remaining Temples all day.

From Prospect Park South, someone asked, how many officers do we have today compared to last year. Commander Monteforte said, “We have around 300 which is roughly the same number as last year. We still have the impact officers and we will be keeping them for the future as far as we can tell.”

There were complaints about some associations not getting notified of PCC activities. The site address was given out as well as a request that those that have complaints take on the role of representatives. One example revolved around a half way house in Caton Park which police have been to on occasion and are working with Community Board 14 to address. Doris Ortiz from Community Board 14 was there to speak on the issue.

Representatives from Beverly Square West brought up that the PS 139 Schoolyard is open at night and has been the site of youth gatherings and making noise.

Mark Dicus from the Church Avenue B.I.D. brought up recent crime activity around the corner of East 18th and Church Avenue. This site has been discussed as a possible spot to place a camera.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mary McRae
Secretary

Nathan Thompson
Assistant Secretary

October 2009 Meeting

Join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, October 28th at 7:30 PM in the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City's Community Room at 175 Lawrence Avenue.

Crime reduction continues in 70th Precinct

By Helen Klein
Courier-Life

In terms of crime reduction, the 70th Precinct is “doing three times better than last year.”

That was the word from Deputy Inspector Ralph Monteforte, the precinct’s commanding officer, during the September meeting of the 70th Precinct Community Council.

Monteforte reminded the group gathered at Belsky House, 140 Lawrence Avenue, that last year -- with overall crime down five percent -- the precinct had won NYPD’s coveted unit citation.

As of September 27th, the precinct was down, year to date, 14.16 percent in major crimes, according to CompStat, the system the NYPD uses to track crime.

The largest decrease was in the category of rape, which has seen a 64.3 percent drop, comparing 2009 with 2008. So far, this year, there have been 10 rapes; at this point, last year, there had been 28.

Also significantly down are robberies. Year to date, there have been 285 in the 70th Precinct, compared with 391 at this point last year, for a decrease of 27.1 percent. “Those are not just numbers,” Monteforte stressed. “Every number is a person.”

There has also been a decrease of 16.7 percent in murder, year to date, with five so far in 2009, compared to six at this time in 2008.

Also way down are grand larcenies. There have been 549 so far this year, compared with 640 at this time last year, for a 14.2 percent decline.

Felonious assaults are also down, 10 percent, with 235 so far in 2009, compared with 261 at this point in 2008.

Finally, burglaries are down 5.9 percent so far in 2009, with 270 so far this year, compared with 287 at this time last year.

“The only crime in which the precinct is up,” Monteforte said, is “stolen cars.,” which falls in the category of Grand Larceny Auto. So far in 2009, 149 autos have been taken within the precinct’s confines; last year, at this time, 138 had been stolen, for an increase of eight percent.

While shootings aren’t tracked as part of CompStat’s profile of the seven major crime categories, they are clearly important, and the precinct keeps a close watch on them. So far, this year, there have been the same number of shooting incidents, 18, as there were last year at this time. However, the number of victims is fewer: 21, this year, compared to 24, last year.

The number of gun homicides is also lower this year: five in 2009, compared to seven at this point in 2008. In addition, both years show a dramatic drop in the number of shootings from the two previous years, which each had 26 shooting incidents at this point in the year, with 36 victims in 2007 and 30 victims in 2006, though the number of gun homicides was lower in 2007 (four) and higher in 2006 (eight).

Particular attention is being paid to the precinct’s transportation hubs. According to information supplied by Monteforte during a PowerPoint presentation to the community council, so far this year over 3,800 “directed visits” have been made to the subway stations within the precinct’s catchment area, the vast majority by precinct personnel. The most visited station in the precinct is the one at the Junction, which has had 761 police visits so far this year.

The second most visited station is Newkirk Avenue on the Brighton line, which as of the date of the meeting had received 636 cop visits, followed closely by Church Avenue on the Brighton line, with 587 visits, and Avenue M, on the Brighton line, with 548 police visits.

While the efforts of the precinct’s police officers are key to its success in reducing crime, the participation of area residents is vital, Monteforte noted. “One of the reasons why the precinct is so safe is because of civilians,” he told one woman, urging her to form a block association on the street where she lives.

Crack thugs sue city: Lawyers settle cop-abuse raps for $500K; same dealers score many times

BY Patrice O'Shaughnessy
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Members of a brazen Brooklyn crack gang raked in more than $500,000 in taxpayer money by repeatedly suing the city for civil rights violations, records show.

Accused drug dealers from the East 21st St. Crew and associates sued the city more than 20 times - and the city settled every time, even though many of the same people sued again and again.

The reason: The city's policy of aggressively settling cases rather than risk a big judgment after a costly trial.

Law enforcement officials are outraged at the repercussions.

"They [the reputed drug dealers] are raising hell in the community and collecting judgments on top of it," one police source said. "They were emboldened; taunting cops."

Authorities say the gang ran a street-level crack operation that wreaked havoc on an East Flatbush neighborhood before being busted last month.

Investigators say they have gang members on tape making more than 100 sales to undercover cops in two years.

"This was a very violent crack crew," city Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said. "A real thorn in the side of the community."

Incredibly, court records show the gang pulled in much better money from suing the city in Brooklyn Federal Court, claiming cops violated their civil rights.

One crew member, Shamel King, got $117,500 from the city, in six separate claims, including one for $35,000 and three for $20,000 each. King, charged with 37 sales, was caught on video smiling as he counted out crack rocks, a law enforcement source said.

A main target of the East 21st St. Crew, Anthony Lawrence, was shot multiple times and wounded Aug. 31 in his apartment, apparently by gunmen who went to rob him of his latest settlement check from the city - for $17,500, law enforcement sources said. Lawrence collected $40,000 in settlements. He was indicted on 11 counts of drug selling.

Another reputed crew member, Affection Johnson, got three settlements totaling $41,500. Johnson was indicted on 39 counts.
"It's crazy," said Michael Palladino, president of the Detectives Endowment Association. "How could this happen more than once?"

Law Department spokeswoman Connie Pankratz said, "Within the last 10 years, there has been a significant increase in the number of cases that we've settled."

She said the city is sued 200 times a week, and that claims against the police have increased.

As of July 1, the city has paid out $637.7 million in judgments and settlements this year.

The department "is responsible for protecting the city's [fiscal situation]," she said. "Although we are often successful at trial, it can be more expensive to defend a case than to settle it."

She said that since the indictment, these cases were being reviewed "at the highest levels" of the department.

Asked if the agency would make any changes to prevent such an egregious playing of the system, she said, "We would like to prevent this, but each case has to be weighed."

Asked if city lawyers checked into King's background after the first three suits, Pankratz said they believed it was more responsible to settle than go to trial.

In the suits, some of which date back several years, the accused dealers claimed that cops - most of them assigned to Brooklyn South Narcotics - fabricated cases, conducted illegal strip searches, falsely arrested them and harassed them while they were merely walking down the street.

They sued after their arrests were dropped or adjourned contemplating dismissal.

The majority of the suits were handled by lawyer Richard Cardinale, who was successful in a class-action suit against the city for illegal strip searches at Rikers Island, and in cases against Brooklyn South Narcotics cops.

He said the clients paid him one-third of their settlements as his fee.

"The cases that I brought, those individuals were innocent of those charges," Cardinale said. "The district attorney had dismissed the cases."

He suggested the recent indictment was retaliation.

"I spoke to some of the families, and they said the officers who arrested them made comments like, 'You like to bring stupid lawsuits?'"

The dozen accused members of the East 21st St. Crew were indicted in September. Eight were arrested; four already were in jail.

Undercovers made dozens of crack purchases in and around the Ditmas Arms on E. 21st St., where King and Lawrence live.

Brennan said the gang made 171 sales to undercovers totaling $10,460, many from inside Star USA, a 99 cent store at Flatbush and Ditmas Aves.

Cops started focusing on drug-dealing in the area after community complaints and shootings in the vicinity linked to feuding gangs.

One shooting, still unsolved, took place on July 30, 2007, outside 501 E. 21st St. near Dorchester Road. Gunmen killed Robert Dixon - who had a criminal record for marijuana possession and assault - in a hail of bullets. Two women who were walking by were wounded.

September 2009 Meeting

Join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, September 30th at 7:30 PM in the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City's Community Room at 175 Lawrence Avenue.

June 2009 Meeting

Join us tomorrow Wednesday, June 24th at 7:30 PM in the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City's Community Room at 175 Lawrence Avenue for our June meeting, where we will have annual elections for Council office and our traditional start-of-summer barbecue!

May 2009 Meeting

Join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, May 27th at 7:30 PM in the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City's Community Room at 175 Lawrence Avenue.

April 2009 Meeting

Join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, April 29th at 7:30 PM in the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City's Community Room at 175 Lawrence Avenue.

March 2009 Meeting - DIFFERENT TIME & LOCATION

Join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, March 25th at 7:00 PM in East Midwood Jewish Center (1625 Ocean Avenue). Following the meeting, join us at 8 PM for the Auxiliary Awards to recognize and thank the Auxiliary Unit for their great work.

February 2009 Meeting

Join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, February 25th at 7:30 PM in the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City's Community Room at 175 Lawrence Avenue.

January 2009 Meeting

Join us at our next meeting on Wednesday, January 28th at 7:30 PM in the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City's Community Room at 175 Lawrence Avenue.