By Bill Parry
More than 400 residents of the Queensbridge Houses, fearing the loss of police officers from Public Service Area 9, signed a petition in recent weeks expressing outrage that the NYPD would change something that was working so well. Crimes such as shootings, murders, rapes and robberies fell 33 percent compared with the same period last year, according to their City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside).
Three high-ranking NYPD sources said there was a restructuring underway and that most of the same officers would stay and the only change would be the “insignia on their collar brass.” Now there is a new unit being formed dedicated to patrolling the Queensbridge, Astoria, Ravenswood and Woodside Houses.
“It’s named PSA 10 and it will have its own commander who will report to Chief Pizzuti at Patrol Borough Queens North,” an NYPD spokesman said Monday. “It will be stationed at the Ravenswood Satellite.” That is the same building PSA 9 used at 34-41 21st St.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
