CRIME IN BKLYN
for National Night Out Against Crime
Clockwise from top left: Members of the Brooklyn United drum line perform in Brower Park, McGruff the Crime Dog, right, gives a thumbs up with a 68th Precinct Crime Prevention Offi cer,
Talman Elkiaeib receives his award from 60th precinct offi cers, and Lt. Xiang Li (left) and Offi cer Carla McGirt of the 63rd Precinct. Photo by Caroline Ourso
COURIER LIFE, AUGUST 6-12, 2021 3
sters.
For Park Sloper Andy
Baird, the annual gathering
has become a yearly tradition
for his family.
“The kids love it,” he said.
“We have pictures of my
daughter when she was two
bouncing up and down to the
music.”
Over in Bay Ridge, leaders
of the 68th Precinct held their
event right outside of their 65th
Street building — drawing in
community members of all
ages, many who said they want
a future in law enforcement.
More than a dozen tables
lined the block between Third
and Fourth avenues— which
was mostly closed to traffi c —
offering activities with a “Back
the Blue” theme and information
to get involved in the various
facets of law enforcement
or serving on the frontlines.
A large showing of young
people were with Bravo Volunteer
Ambulance Service, as
well as the NYPD’s Law Enforcement
Explorers — two
programs, one young resident
of the neighborhood said, are
helpful in getting involved
with the community while also
fi guring out career options
“It’s something that gets
you thinking about the future,”
said 21-year-old Alyssa
Gomez, who joined the organization
with the aspiration of
being a police offi cer two years
ago, and is now studying social
work with the hopes of working
with the NYPD in the future.
Another member of the
Law Enforcement Explorers
encouraged his fellow young
adults to inquire about programs
within their local precincts
as it opens up a trove of
opportunities.
“I encourage a lot of people
out there to actually go to their
local precincts and ask about
their Explorers program,”
said 18-year-old Abdelazim Elhanafy,
“and getting involved
within their local community
and local policing.”
There were also local community
groups who came out
to host activities to show their
support for the police, such as
Rosie’s Confi dence Corner who
put together an arts and crafts
table for the kids with the focus
of spreading kindness to one
another.
“We are all about love, we’re
all about kindness,” said Rosemarie
Rizzo, who founded her
organization in the aftermath
of Superstorm Sandy. “And trying
to get children to go back to
the realities of the please and
thank you.”
The 60th Precinct in Coney
Island hosted their gathering
outside their West 8th Street
stationhouse, where they
awarded local businessman
Talman Elkiaeb was awarded
a Civilian Commendation
Award for his help servicing
police vehicles at his auto body
shop.
The 63rd precinct hosted
its festivities at Marine Park,
boasting two bouncy castles,
free food and knick-knacks
from local restaurants and
vendors, and a 63-emblazoned
squad car from the 1970s for
picture-taking. Entertainment
for the evening included performances
by various youth
dance troupes, at various ages.
“It’s wonderful to have everyone
come out for some fun
after the year we’ve had,” said
Offi cer Carla McGirt, an offi -
cer with the 63rd who attended
the event.
The community did not
get to have its National Night
Out jamboree last year due
to the coronavirus. The community
rallied to put on the
event this year, in spite of rising
case rates in the city due
to the Delta variant. Since the
city has been living for much
longer with COVID now than
it did at this point last year,
people were both more eager to
celebrate and more knowledgeable
of the precautions to take.
“It’s defi nitely a concern,”
said Paul Link, the Corporate
Secretary of the Marine Park
Civic Association, regarding
Delta. “But we’re gonna be
positive, and we’re gonna say
things are gonna keep getting
better, as they are. We’ve just
gotta be adults, be careful.”
With reporting by Caroline
Ourso and Arthur de Gaeta