Sky Watch Sets Up Shop on Franklin Avenue
A couple weeks ago we spotted one of the NYPD’s Sky Watch towers at Nostrand and Lexington Avenues. This week, reports I Love Franklin Avenue, one of the anti-crime structures is stationed outside of Nam’s market on Franklin Avenue at St. John’s Place in Crown Heights. According to an officer on the scene, the tower…
A couple weeks ago we spotted one of the NYPD’s Sky Watch towers at Nostrand and Lexington Avenues. This week, reports I Love Franklin Avenue, one of the anti-crime structures is stationed outside of Nam’s market on Franklin Avenue at St. John’s Place in Crown Heights. According to an officer on the scene, the tower is a response to a “rash of shootings and other crime” in the immediate vicinity. Evidently, this corner is a favorite with some of the local entrepreneurs.
“I had never seen them grouped like that with all that heavy fire power in full view. When did that sort of thing start?”
As soon after September 11, 2001 as logistically possible.
Further proof that Crown Heights has a long way to go. You don’t see this in Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, or Fort Greene.
A shooting is not necessarily a homicide though. Apparently there has been a “rash of shootings” in my immediate vicinity of which I have no knowledge.
The fact that the police are concerned about further repercussions concerns me as well. Not because I think anyone will be coming after me or anyone not involved in the original shootings, but there is always the remote possibility of catching a stray bullet (this actually happened to a friend of a coworker).
We need some national gun control!
its not about proximity to where murders are taking place.
…its about proximity to where gentrification is taking place.
You can see this year’s homicides here:
http://projects.nytimes.com/crime/homicides/map
Surprised they’re putting the tower where they are, since homicides seem to be clustered slightly North of St. John’s, closer to the Armory.
bmfesq: My husband has told the police about the use of those trash bins multiple times but nothing has come of it. I suppose that’s because just finding drugs in the bin doesn’t give them anyone to tie them to.
I’m sure the dealers will be back as soon as the tower comes down — that’s what happened last summer. I’ve decided to practice equanimity on that issue since contacting the police does not seem to do any good.
I’d like some more info on the “rash of shootings” if anyone has it. I guess I could ask the cops stationed there for more specifics, but I don’t really want to identify myself as a cop-lover which (I’m not and) would probably not make me popular with some of my neighbors.
lechacal, I had never seen them grouped like that with all that heavy fire power in full view. When did that sort of thing start?
They also had three not so friendly looking German Shepherds. I wanted outta there fast.
Heavily armed NYPD (carbines, kevlar, helmets) are pretty regular visitors to some of the principal commuter subway stations. I see them somewhat regularly where I get off the subway for work.
The one and only time I almost got jumped living in NYC – a sky watch in the exact same location saved my ass. Thanks skywatch!