NYPD Pledges Domestic Violence Crackdown In Jamaica For 2018

JAMAICA, QUEENS -- Domestic violence crimes have are down in nearly every category in Jamaica and its surrounding neighborhoods since this year began. Still, NYPD Capt. John Ganley is not satisfied.

Even one victim of domestic violence is too many for Ganley, executive officer of the NYPD's 103rd precinct encompassing Jamaica, Hollis Park Gardens, Hollis and Lakewood. He said in a community council meeting Tuesday that hammering down on domestic violence crimes would be the precinct's top priority going into 2018.

"We want people to know they can report their crime to us and not have to worry that they’re just another number to us," Ganley told Patch. "If you need our help past the arrest, we’re there. That’s what we want to get out."

That means sending officers from the precinct's domestic violence team to speak at any and all local public forums whose organizers want them there. Ganley invited anyone at the meeting who wanted his officers to speak to organizations, meetings or events to contact him about setting it up.

"You're going to see a lot of us out there in the coming year," he said. "We’re going to be doing a lot more outreach in terms of domestic violence education and training."

Most of that includes shedding light on a number of domestic violence services that community members may not be aware of. That includes the recent addition of a Safe Horizon office inside precinct. The nationwide victim assistance agency offers services like counseling, support groups, job referrals, legal services and homeless aid to domestic violence survivors.

Ganley hopes getting the word out about those services, along with agencies like the New York City Family Justice Center, will encourage more domestic violence victims to report their abuser to police.

"A lot of victims feel like if they rat out the abuser, it will leave them A. in a worse situation once the cops leave or B. with no money if this person abusing them leaves," Ganley said. "We're trying to tell people, 'There are services for you.'"

That outreach isn't entirely new. Ganley said the precinct has already been coordinating with community agencies to offer domestic violence support this year, and it's been working. Major domestic violence felonies in the precinct are down by 1.4 percent since the start of this year, NYPD records show. Domestic violence rapes and grand larcenies have both decreased by 14.3 percent, and non-index domestic violence crimes lowered by nearly 9 percent, according to the precinct's records.

But there's still work to be done. The precinct's records also show a 1.4 percent increase in domestic violence felony assaults since the year started.

Ganley said he hopes to see numbers in all categories lower as the precinct ups its domestic violence outreach next year.

"We’re not going to promise people the world if we can’t deliver it, but whatever we can do, we’re going to be aggressive with it," he said.

Lead image via Patch reporter Danielle Woodward.