If you ever had to interact with a NYPD precinct directly you already know that the bad reputation the NYPD gets is well earned.
This precinct lives up to that reputation.
When I first moved to this neighborhood I started attending the monthly Community Council meetings organized by the local Precinct. I was particularly intrigued by the Neighborhood Coordination Officers initiative, which on paper it sounded like a good idea, and I wanted to give it a chance: "Neighborhood Coordination Officers, or NCOs, are your local problem solvers. They spend all their working hours within the confines of their assigned sectors, actively engaging with local community members and residents. They get to know the neighborhood, its people, and its problems extremely well."
Too bad this wonderful initiative is only as good as the people you are having problems with are not police officers. In particular, local police officers parking their personal cars in complete disregard of parking regulations, and getting away with it. Unfortunately parking in this neighborhood is a big problem, but local police officers think they are above the law, and that they can park in front of fire hydrant, or not pay meter fares, or park by "No parking any time" signs. In short: NYPD officers abusing of their powers and getting away with it[1].
The previous commander didn't last long: in a couple of years he was gone, moved to the 77th Precinct. The current commander seems to be on the same mold: full of promises, enthusiasm for the local Neighborhood Coordination Officers, and same disregard for violations committed by police officers.
During the past 3 years I documented dozens of violations perpetrated by the same police officers of the 88th Precinct. I filed 311 complaints; I contacted my Neighborhood Coordination Officers; I sent pictures to the 88th Precinct Commander, etc... It was all a waste of time. Police officers would not take any action against other police officers. Surreal phone conversations with representatives of the 88th Precinct claiming that, since I didn't stay by the illegally parked vehicle for days at a time, I could not prove that the car was parked illegally for days. The officer over the phone would claim that the offending officer moved the car, and then moved it back in the exact same spot hours later, and would continuously to this back-and-forth for days. In other words: officers at this Precinct think taxpayers are stupid, and will treat you like that.
The Neighborhood Coordination Officers claim that a police officer cannot file a complaint agains a police officer of the same rank. Yep, that's right: according to the police, if an officer sees a fellow officer of the same rank violating the law, he or she is not allowed to file a complaint against that officer. This is total nonsense.
And if you think that a police officer abusing of his/her power to park his/her car doesn't matter much, just think about it: would you trust a police officer who uses his/her badge to gain a persona advantage while violating the law? What else is this police officer ready to do to gain a personal advantage?
Expecting honesty from the NYPD is just too high a bar to clear. You're better off without them.
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[1] What's new, right? read more