100th Precinct Pilot Block Watcher Program...

From Todays N.Y. Daily News.....

Danny Russiello is starting a pilot block watching program in the 100 Precinct in Rockaway, Queens.
Photo by:

Robert Mecea for New York Daily News

A group of Rockaway residents are hoping to put a dent in crime the old-fashioned way — by keeping their eyes and ears open.

About 30 people will be trained on Thursday to take part in a new pilot program as block watchers in the 100th Precinct.

“This is the only precinct in the area that does not have any NYPD surveillance cameras,” said Danny Russiello, president of the 100th Precinct Community Council. “It’s a great tool to have. Each person is almost like a camera.”

Block watchers will receive training, an identification card and a number to use when calling information into local precincts.

“People won’t know who the block watchers are, so maybe [criminals\] will think twice before trying to do something here,” Russiello said.

City Councilman Peter Vallone Jr., who has long complained about the decrease in NYPD manpower, said block watches can help decrease crime.

“Some of these crimes are easily preventable if people are observant,” said Vallone, who chairs the Council’s Public Safety Committee. “People are stealing the wheels off cars again. They are climbing into windows in the middle of the day.”

Vallone has been working on a project with the 114th Precinct to combine a block watch and existing civilian patrol.

And he said wanna-bes and vigilantes need not apply to these community volunteer positions.

“Civilians are taught not to get involved,” Vallone said. “They are just to report to the police and that’s it.”

Russiello said he is hoping to get several classes of block watchers trained in the coming weeks and months to cover all parts of the sprawling precinct, which extends from Breezy Point to Beach 59th St.

Block watchers can also hang onto their anonymity when phoning in tips and information. That could also help bring more people into the program, said Rockaway resident Betsy Ladd.

“A lot of people want to say something but are afraid of giving their names,” said Ladd, who has lived in Rockaway from 31 years.

Ladd is one of the people signed up to take the training.

“Sometimes you are sitting on the boardwalk, the surfers are out there and kids will come and go through their bags,” she said. “Or sometimes you will see young kids picking on senior citizens. We try to get involved but the more people the better.”