The 45th Precinct may just have lost one of its most effective weapons in the fight against drugs when a narcotics unit that was stationed at the precinct was recently moved.
The precinct’s “narcotics module” consisting of five specialists, four detectives and a sergeant, trained in investigating and arresting suspected drug dealers and distributors, was moved from the precinct without notifying the local community board or any community leaders, said Community Board 10 district manager Kenneth Kearns.
The “module” was disbanded at the precinct after a sergeant was transferred out and never replaced, followed by the others in the unit, leaving the precinct to share the 43rd Precinct’s narcotics module, said CB10 chairman John Marano.
“You cannot tell me that we are going to have the same level of service by sharing the narcotics module with the 43rd Precinct,” Marano said. “Their work is going to be concentrated in the 43rd Precinct because there are more issues with drugs there. Now our precinct has no narcotics team.”
While the 45th Precinct’s drug trade is less active than elsewhere in the borough, there are some unique challenges to fighting drug sales in the 45th Precinct, Marano said.
“We don’t have kids hanging out on the street corners selling drugs,” Marano, a former police officer, said. “Drug dealing in the 45th Precinct is typically done indoors.”
Since much of the precinct drugs sales happen inside, it is more difficult to root out the problem, Marano said. Police have to first locate which house or apartment the sales are coming from, and then conduct an investigation by collecting evidence, before making any arrests, Marano stated.
“There will not be a team in the precinct collecting information about possible drug sales,” Marano said. “We will have to wait for there to be complaints about a location, and then have a precinct detective investigate the matter.”
On behalf of CB10, Marano has written NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly asking that the narcotics module be reinstated at the 45th Precinct. Councilman Jimmy Vacca has also asked the NYPD to reconsider, he said. The NYPD press office did not comment on this matter as of press time.
Patrick Rocchio can be reach via e-mail at procchio@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 742-3393
