On Thursday, officers on regular patrol rounded up shoplifters along the Coney Island boardwalk. Meanwhile, a specialized NYPD team focused on “quality of life” issues overlooked a group of seemingly homeless individuals gathering at a nearby gazebo.
One officer, stationed at the 60th precinct, was in the perfect spot to apprehend a thief caught by a store’s security guard at a beach shop. Maya Miller, a shop owner, recounted, “I called 911, and it took them a bit to respond, but these officers were right outside.”
The newly formed five-member quality of life unit, part of an initiative by Police Chief Jessica Tisch to address frequent 311 complaints, has dealt with issues like dog owners allowing their pets to roam and enforcing rules against scooter riding on the boardwalk. However, they chose to ignore the apparent homeless camp at the gazebo.
Local residents voiced their frustrations about the situation. Joe Tragona, a long-time Bass Beach resident, remarked, “We noticed it right when we arrived at 10 am. Will they enforce something here? We hope so.”
Tragona and his wife, Diane, emphasized that this camp has been a persistent problem. “We’ve spent our lives here. Generally, the police do a good job,” he noted, adding that things can become chaotic as night falls. “When it gets dark, it gets too wild; you can’t really enjoy being here.”
Diane agreed, stating, “There are always homeless people around. It’s a problem they really need to address.”
Tourists visiting the beach generally support the new unit, which the police department plans to expand to five districts this summer.
Despite the police presence earlier in the day, the gazebo camp remained unchanged. The team walking along the boardwalk represented just part of a 16-officer squad assigned to quality of life duties in the precinct.
This initiative began in February with Tisch aiming for a more significant police presence addressing daily nuisances like open drug use and illegal vending. NYPD Chief William Glenn mentioned, “We’re rolling out quickly throughout the city this summer.” He emphasized the team’s efficiency, noting they had responded to nearly 10,000 quality of life complaints, arriving in an average of 17 minutes, quicker than last year. “If we encounter individuals needing services or homeless issues, we will take action,” he assured.
In April, the Q team was active in a Brooklyn neighborhood, responding to ongoing complaints about abandoned and improperly parked vehicles. Miller expressed hope for more effective communication between the police and the community: “They can definitely help bridge the gap here.”
