Legislator Bill Gaylor recently met with Valley Stream Village officials and Fifth Precinct Police Department officials to address the recent increase in crime in the Valley Stream community. Gaylor raised concerns about an upward trend in many crime categories, including serious felonies, which have been occurring in the Valley Stream Community.
Hosted by Mayor Ed Fare and Village Officials, Legislator Gaylor met with the Fifth Precinct’s Commander, Inspector James Bartscherer and POP officers Rita Bopp-Carroll and Steven Lincoln to discuss the recent spike in criminal activity in Valley Stream. Topics of discussion included increased police visibility, increased patrols and “park, walk and talks” which Inspector Bartscherer stated officers are getting out of patrol cars and walking and talking with residents and business owners in the downtown areas. Inspector Bartscherer also stated he has increased the number of patrols and plain clothes detectives working throughout the community to combat the increase in crime.
While Legislator Gaylor praised the on-going efforts by the 5th Precinct more needs to be. Gaylor also praised the reintroduction of Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) cops within the Fifth Precinct to address crime and quality of life issues, but recognized that only two POP officers for the entire precinct is not the solution and more needs to be done for the community. Gaylor suggested that in addition to on-going efforts by the Police Department, that the Police Department addresses the negative perception some residents have of the police by increasing visible police patrols, conducting community meetings and public information seminars to hear complaints and receive valuable input from our residents.
Shown in photo above: Legislator Gaylor, Insp. Bartscherer and P.O.P. Police Officer Rita Bopp-Carroll review crime statistics with Valley Stream village officials.