Council Member Oswald Feliz (D), who represents the 15th District in the Bronx, is calling on the NYPD to send more officers to his district, citing increased shootings in several Bronx precincts.
Feliz, who represents constituents in Fordham, Belmont, East Tremont, West Farms, Van Nest and Allerton, penned a letter to NYPD interim police Commissioner Thomas Donlon on Sept. 23, calling for extra cops and resources, saying that several Bronx communities are being “left behind” from the city’s progress in reducing violent crime
“I am writing to urgently request additional police officers for the Bronx’s 46th, 48th and 52nd police precincts,” Feliz wrote. “While the NYPD has made progress over the past year in reducing crime, communities in the Bronx have been left behind.”
The letter comes at a time when the number of shooting incidents is up in these three precincts despite a drop across NYC.
For instance, there has been a significant increase in the number of shooting incidents in the 52nd precinct, where there have been 17 incidents year to date, up from 11 for the same time period a year ago, a more than 50% increase. The precinct covers Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park and University Heights.
The Bronx’s 46th precinct, which patrols Fordham, University Heights, Morris Heights and Mount Hope neighborhoods, has seen five additional shooting incidents this year compared to last year, amounting to a 14.3% increase, according to NYPD data. The 48th precinct, meanwhile, has seen the number of shooting incidents increase nearly 24%, according to NYPD data. The precinct covers Belmont, East Tremont, West Farms and Fordham University.
Feliz said murders have also increased in parts of his district.
“In some police precincts, the number of murders has nearly doubled – making it clear these precincts need additional resources,” Feliz said in his letter.
The number of murders is up over 100% in the 46th precinct, with 23 reported this year, up from 10 for the same period last year, according to NYPD data.
However, the number of murders has halved in the 48th precinct this year, from 12 to 6 six. Meanwhile, in the 52nd precinct, murders are down 11.1%
The increased level of shootings in the three precincts—as well as murders in the 46th—is in contrast with the Bronx overall and the city as a whole.
Citywide, shooting incidents are down 8.5% compared to 2023, and murders are down 10.3%, according to NYPD data. Meanwhile, boroughwide, the Bronx saw a modest 2.4% increase in the number of shooting incidents while murder was done 17.6% compared to 2023, according to NYPD data.
Feliz noted that hiring extra cops is not the only way to address crime, although it is a key component.
“Public safety is not an exclusive responsibility of law enforcement, and there is no single remedy for reducing crime, but there are important actions we can take to ensure safety-related progress reaches every community,” he said in his letter. “As we know, police presence can play an important role, especially on the issue of crime deterrence. I have personally seen this be the case in the communities I represent.”
