NYC residents encouraged as new NYPD crime-fighting initiative unveiled in overwhelmed Queens district: Long time coming

A new crime-fighting initiative in northeast Queens is slated to bring dozens more cops to the area – and residents couldn’t be happier.The 109th Precinct – covering neighborhoods including downtown Flushing, Whitestone and College Point – has expanded with a 66-officer satellite precinct to try to improve emergency response in the massive jurisdiction, the NYPD announced this month.Sheryl Kleven, the chair of directors for A Better College Point Civic Association, told The Post that her group has called for more police attention in recent years with the rapid expansion of downtown Flushing, which has diverted vital resources from her neck of Queens.“What’s suffered mostly over the last few years is the quality-of-life issues,” Kleven said.“The majority [of residents] are very happy and very encouraged by the fact that the satellite precinct is actually happening for us.

It’s been a long time coming.”Several Queens residents last week echoed Kleven’s quality-of-life concerns.“I wouldn’t have a problem with [the satellite precinct] — better safe than sorry,” said Paul Morales, 26, of the local neighborhood of Malba, noting he’s had a few packages stolen from his home in recent months.A Queens native who only gave his first name, Danny, said, “It just gets worse and worse — there’s more crime during the day I’ve noticed.“Now you’re seeing more and more of it and in places where you’ve never seen that before,” he said.The new NYPD patrol force — based out of the Police Academy in College Point — will focus on neighborhoods such as College Point, Whitestone, Beechhurst, and Bay Terrace and target concerns including shoplifting, car break-ins, burglaries, disruptive car meet-ups and drag racing, Queens city Councilwoman Vickie Paladino said.“Areas such as College Point, Whitestone, and Bay Terrace have experienced a lack of consistent police presence, not due to any failure on the part of the Police Department but ra...