4 NOVEMBER 19, 2020 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
G-COP hosts Zoom meeting introducing 104th Precinct’s new CO
BY DEAN MOSES
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
Newly minted Commanding
Offi cer of the 104th Precinct
Louron E. Hall joined a virtual
G-COP meeting on Nov. 12 to introduce
himself to the neighborhood patrol.
The 104th Precinct Civilian Observation
Patrol – also known as G-COP
– has been in operation for over 40
years, through which time they have
assisted the NYPD with traffic and
crowd control while also regularly
patrolling and reporting suspicious
activity in western Queens to the
police.
In order to continue this working
relationship that has lasted the better
part of four decades, G-COP held
a Zoom conference call hosted by
current President Elizabeth De La
Cruz, allowing Hall to speak with the
citizen task force where they could
learn more about him and how they
can assist each other going forward.
The webinar commenced with Hall
explaining his background prior to
joining the 104th Precinct in October.
The commanding officer informed
the group of his 20-plus years of experience
serving as a member of law
enforcement, as well as going into
detail regarding his time as a narcotic
investigator, which led him to
obtaining his detective shield. Prior
to stepping into the role previously
held by Deputy Inspector Victoria C.
Perry, he also spent two years commanding
Rockaway’s 100th Precinct.
Although he emphasized the transition
had been a smooth one, he also
spoke of the challenges he had and
still has to face as a new leader.
“The 100th Precinct, when I left,
had 400 index crimes up until Sept.
21. When I got here, the 104th Precinct
had 1,200 index crimes, so it has
three times the amount of crime than
where I came from and this precinct
is in the top-three as it relates to 311
complaints, so we are busy all the
way around,” said Hall.
Upon hearing this, G-COP was
keen to discover how they could
ease the burden on officers. But in
order for the two parties to be able
to collaborate effectively, Hall gave
a rundown of the number of crimes
in the area and how they correlate to
Screenshot via Zoom
2019 figures.
In comparison to last year, burglaries
and grand larcenies have
exponentially increased. Burglaries
alone are up 80 percent, rising to 268
compared to last year’s 149 crimes
reported, the two highest forms of
which have been residential and commercial.
The total number of felony
assaults have also risen with about
250 crimes reported.
“What’s really driving our felony
assaults are the domestic felony assaults,”
Hall said.
“The residential burglaries really
started to kick up when the
pandemic — maybe three or four
months into the pandemic it wasn’t
as novel as it was from inception in
the months February and March, so
to speak. Now people started going
back to work, we started to experience
residential burglaries in the
daytime,” Hall said.
Hall also added that video surveillance
hasn’t been of assistance
in identifying criminals due to the
pandemic.
“Back in the day, pre-pandemic, it
would be considered suspicious to
wear a mask and a hoodie, now it’s
not,” Hall said.
As the holidays approach, shoplifting
is one of the biggest issues facing
the community, Hall said. Over the
next few weeks, the 104th Precinct is
working on a plan to distribute preventative
information to commercial
areas, including Myrtle Avenue and
Metropolitan Avenue, and once it
is completed, G-COP can distribute
these packets, helping to not only
ease the workload on officers but
also deter crimes thanks to their
presence.
Residents on the call also notified
Hall about concerns they requested
the 104th look into, such as noise
complaints generated by a cavalcade
of motorcars that blast music during
the early hours of the morning. Hall
assured locals that he is aware of this
issue, and even shared an image from
his phone of a car with a large sound
system attached.
The meeting culminated with
Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. thanking
G-COP for their service, and
highlighting their tribute website
where individuals can share what
the organization means to them.
Mets to explore all free-agent starting pitcher options
BY JOE PANTORNO
EDITORIAL@QNS.COM
@QNS
If you’re a free-agent starting pitcher
that has had some semblance of majorleague
success in the recent past, there
is a good chance the New York Mets will
take a fl yer on you.
Multiple reports — including those
from SNY’s Andy Martino and Metsmerized’s
Tim Ryder — the Mets are preparing
to or have already reached out to a
litany of free-agent starters since Steve
Cohen’s closed the deal to take over the
club as the majority owner.
Names that have already emerged as
potential targets include Charlie Morton,
Corey Kluber and Mike Minor (h/t
Ryder) — which the Mets have already
checked in on.
The newfound aggression on the
free-agency market ushered in by Cohen’s
arrival is only a signal of things to
come under the richest owner in Major
League Baseball.
When it comes to adding some
much-needed depth within the starting
rotation, a source added to amNewYork
Metro on Monday that “no stone will be
left unturned.”
Considering Cohen’s affl uence within
an MLB market that sees a majority of its
teams either shedding salary or pennypinching
aft er losing a combined $3.1
billion due to the COVID-19 epidemic
this summer, it’s an understandable
and logical approach that’s being taken
by the Mets.
They have the potential to outbid 90
percent of the league and they are starving
for legitimate starting-pitching depth
— which has been an Achilles heel of the
organization for years.
The Mets’ ability to retain Marcus
Stroman on an $18.9 million qualifying
off er last week was a crucial fi rst step in
the right direction to start building that
reliable staff behind two-time NL Cy
Young Award winner Jacob deGrom.
But there are still numerous holes to
address, though.
Noah Syndergaard is recovering from
Tommy John surgery and is expected to
miss early portions of the 2021 season.
Meanwhile, Steven Matz may have run
out of chances to stay in the rotation aft er
posting a 9.68 ERA in nine appearances
last season.
But David Peterson did emerge as a
legitimate southpaw option during his
rookie campaign.
That leaves the Mets with a current
Opening Day rotation of the following
players: Jacob deGrom, Marcus Stroman,
David Peterson and Steven Matz.
Seth Lugo has performed admirably
as a starter despite his role fl ip-fl opping
from the bullpen to the rotation. Simple
logic suggests that the righty should
stay a reliever where he’s been far more
eff ective.
Signing a proven veteran arm like
Morton, Kluber, Minor, Jake Odorizzi,
or Masahiro Tanaka bolsters the bottom
of the Mets’ rotation and allows
them to fl ex Matz to the bullpen or have
that immediate depth available to plug
in any potential holes if injuries strike
or Peterson experiences a sophomore
slump of sorts.
That’s also not to mention a potential
pursuit of the crown jewel of the freeagent
starting-pitching market: 2020 NL
Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer.
The Mets are being tabbed by many
to be a major player in the Bauer sweepstakes,
which would immediately provide
one of the most formidable one-two
punches in baseball alongside Jacob
deGrom.
Suddenly, a dream off season on the
free-agent market could have the Mets
possessing the best rotation in baseball
rather than one that is constantly in
fl ux.
Charlie Morton
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
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