5th Precinct talks policing in Valley Stream

About 60 people attended a community forum on Monday held by the Nassau County Police Department’s 5th Precinct to address what is being done to curb crime in its coverage area. One of the concerns repeatedly expressed by residents was whether the precinct has enough resources to do its job.

“Absolutely,” said James Bart-scherer, its commanding officer. “Without any reservation.”

Residents raised concerns about patrol sectors and crossing guards, among other general questions about the policing process. Bartscherer said the perception of the police presence in a given area is often subjective. He told a story about fielding conflicting comments from residents while driving down a single block: one person said it seemed like he was patrolling often, and another said he was not patrolling often enough.

Bartscherer explained that although eight officers are dispersed throughout Valley Stream’s patrol sectors, coverage varies depending on the needs of each area in the precinct’s jurisdiction, which also includes areas of Elmont, Franklin Square, Garden City South, Lakeview, Lynbrook, Malverne, South Floral Park and West Hempstead. In addition to the eight officers, Valley Stream has access to two officers from the Problem Oriented Policing unit as well as a Community Oriented Policing Enforcement unit, which can provide additional assistance where necessary.

“We are about 14 percent below our five-year [crime] average,” Bartscherer said, adding that every 28 days, the precinct meets to analyze crime patterns and deploy resources to areas that demand attention.

In the case of the knifepoint robber, he said, the focus was on patterns. Bartscherer said that plainclothes officers had canvassed Central Avenue to talk to store owners, and advised them to be alert and to pay attention to details that might help police. He explained that police have been dispatched in the area of the robberies to do a “park, walk and talk,” with officers patrolling on foot and interacting with the public, which gives them access to information they don’t get inside their squad cars. Bartscherer added that they have not seen any activity from the robber since late January.