by
HERE IN RICHMOND HILL AND OZONE PARK NEIGHBORHOODS, RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT RECENT POLICE BRUTALITY AND RACIAL PROFILING. THEY COMPLAIN POLICE HAVE BEEN HARASSING PEOPLE OF COLOR BY STOPPING THEM ON THE STREETS AND IN PLACES OF WORSHIP, AND SOMETIMES ARRESTING THEM. ALBERT BALDEO HAS BEEN AN ATTORNEY FOR 20 YEARS AND WAS A STATE SENATE CANDIDATE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. HE SAYS THE POLICE NEED TO REFORM.
SOT: They showed a lack of sensitivity towards emerging communities and migrant communities. And the problem is that there is a problem of racial profiling that exist in the police force.
FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS CALLED ON THE ATTENTION OF BOROUGH POLICE CHIEF TOMAS DALE. THE CHIEF PROMISED TO RESIDENTS THE RACIAL PROFILING ALLEGATIONS WILL BE INVESTIGATED.
SOT: He listened, he gave the constituents who were present a hearing. It remains to be seen whether he will actually do something about it. We are here to work with the police because it is a mutual partnership we have in our community. But when they overstep their limits, when they overstep their limits when they infringe the rights of decent and honest tax paying citizens, I do have a problem with that.
OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, IN RICHMOND HILL AND OZONE PARK THERE HAS BEEN A 16% INCREASE IN CRIME. SOME RESIDENTS BLAME DRUG DEALERS AND CRIMINALS FROM WITHIN AND THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES FOR INCREASE IN CRIME AND ISSUES OF POLICE BRUTALITY. VINCENT VALLA HAS LIVED IN OZONE PARK FOR 12 YEARS. HE SAYS MORE COPS SHOULD BE ON THE STREETS CONTROL CRIME. VALLA EMPATHIZES WITH THE CHALLENGES LAW ENFORCEMENT FACES IN THE COMMUNITY.
SOT: to be a policeman, it is not an easy job. It is a very tough job too. Some guys don't have no respect for the cops.
THE GUYANESE INDIANS WANTS THE POLICE TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO REDUCE CRIME. BUT THEY REFUSE TO BE VICTIMIZED IN THE PROCESS. BALDEO SAYS THE COMMUNITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO CRIME REDUCTION SHOULD NOT BE UNDERMINED.
SOT: It is a partnership. This is not the police against us. This is where we work together to stop predators and criminals. And for that to continue, then we have to see each other as equal partners in the fight against crime and we have to cooperate with each other.
POLICE DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THE ALLEGED CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. BUT LOCALS SAY THEY WANT IMMEDIATE RESPONSE AND ACTION. THE RESIDENTS WILL MEET WITH THE POLICE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH TO DISCUSS THE RESULTED OF THE PROMISED INVESTIGATION.
HENOK FENTE, COLUMBIA RADIO NEWS