Normally held on the last Wednesday of the month, 10th Precinct Community Council meetings provide an opportunity to interact with local NYPD leadership, voice concerns, hear the latest crime statistics, and get valuable public safety information. The Council will not meet in July or August—the second and third months of their annual summer hiatus. Suspected COVID-19 as the cause? Your answer was wrong, but take heart: After months of pandemic-related challenges and changes, your brain is still in the business of forging connections.

COVID-19, however, was the culprit, when springtime Community Council meetings were cancelled. Since then, Chelsea Community News has published several Q&As with the 10th Precinct’s leader. The July edition is below, with the next one scheduled for mid-August. After that, we hope to consign this series to the pages (or web postings) of history, because that would mean Community Council brick-and-mortar gatherings have resumed, as of Wed., Sept. 30. As for other ways Chelsea residents can engage with their local officers,

Scott Stiffler, for Chelsea Community News (CCN): If COVID-19 precautions continue to preclude public gatherings, will the 10th Precinct be going online for Community Council and Build the Block meetings?

Deputy Inspector Kevin J. Coleman, Commanding Officer of the 10th Precinct: I’m pleased to announce that the Neighborhood Coordination Officer (NCO) Build the Block meetings will resume in August. This is the current schedule:

NCO Sector A (W. 14th St. to W. 21t St., 7th Ave. to the Hudson): Wed., Aug. 5, 6pm, at 174 8th Ave. (Jungle Bird Restaurant).

NCO Sector B (W. 21st St. to W. 29th St., 7th Ave. to the Hudson): Thurs., Aug. 20, 7pm, at 43 8th Ave. (Penn South apartments).

NCO Sector C (W. 29 St. to W. 43rd St., 9th Ave. to the Hudson): Thurs., Aug. 27, 5pm, at 400 W. 43rd St. (Manhattan Plaza).

I want everyone to know that the 10th Precinct is committed to moving forward—together, with the community. We seek to strengthen our relationships with the public and to expand our reach within the neighborhoods as well. I implore everyone to attend our August Build the Block meetings.

CCN: How does the current phase of NYC’s reopening impact the Precinct’s mission, routine, enforcement, outreach?

DI COLEMAN: The largest change, from a policing perspective, is that there are a lot more people on the street compared to the earlier months of the pandemic, which sometimes felt like a ghost town. It’s certainly good to see people out and about again, enjoying the bars and restaurants with the outdoor seating, and so on.

Phase 4 begins today [Mon., July 20]. These means low-risk outdoor arts and entertainment activities such as outdoor zoos, botanical gardens, historic sites and outdoor cultural institutions are open, though they must operate a 33% maximum occupancy capacity, and visitors must wear face coverings/practice social distancing.

However, unlike other parts of New York State in Phase 4, indoor dining in NYC restaurants/bars is not permitted (they may continue outdoor dining), and shopping malls and indoor museums must remain closed. Gyms and theaters across the state are also to remain closed.

CCN: Please give a rundown of the latest crime statistics for the 10th Precinct.

DI COLEMAN: As on Monday, July 20, the 10th Precinct is down 10.8% in index crime. We have increases in burglaries (much attributed to the looting incidents and the pandemic) and vehicle theft. We are also up 13.8% in robberies for the year, but much of that was from a spike we had in January and February. We are down 30.8% in robberies for the past four weeks.

CCN: With summer weather and Phase 4 bringing more people outdoors—and back to restaurants and retail establishments—what do we need to remind ourselves about public safety and opportunistic larceny crimes?

DI COLEMAN: We encourage everyone to mind their property. There are a lot of opportunists out there waiting for you to set your cell phone or wallet on a table or leave it unattended. If you are dining at an outdoor restaurant, do not place your phone or other valuables on the table. Someone could walk or run right past and swipe it off the table. Also, do not leave you bicycle or your vehicle (with keys in the ignition) unattended, not even for a minute. Sometimes people do this when they want to quickly run into a store for only a minute, only to discover their bike or car stolen when they return.

Finally, always be aware of where you are and be mindful of your surroundings. It’s easy to be distracted these days (i.e. texting, cell phones, etc.), but when you’re not paying attention is when someone might snatch your phone out of your hand, or one might get struck by a vehicle. It’s always important to stay alert at all times.

CCN: Many residents have noted officers at (since-opened) barricades on the 10th Precinct’s block (W. 20th St. btw. 7th & 8th Aves.) do not wear face masks. Is that at their own discretion? How do you respond to vigilant, mask-wearing residents who pass by and see them as setting a bad example?

DI COLEMAN: The officers are to wear face coverings when interacting with the public. I know there are some cases where that has not been so, but we are improving on this. We always strive to set a good example.

CCN: As a leader, NYPD member, and person, what have you learned, thus far, from the experience of policing during a pandemic?

DI COLEMAN: It’s amazing to witness that so many New Yorkers understand the realities of the pandemic, and their civic responsibilities related to the outbreak. New Yorkers really have stepped up during the pandemic, in terms of complying with social distancing and the executive orders from the Mayor and Governor. This has been so important, especially during the height of the outbreak back in March, April, and May. Indeed, that is why NYC is on the right track now—because of the people of New York.

CCN: What is the mood/morale of the 10th Precinct, given the calls for defunding the NYPD and the anti-police sentiment of recent protest actions?

DI COLEMAN: I could not be more proud of the 10th Precinct cops and how they operated during those extraordinary events of crime and disorder throughout the city. The police officers of the 10th Precinct worked tirelessly and selflessly to protect life and property in Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen. For most of the month of June, all 10th Precinct Officers worked shifts of 12 or more hours with no days off. They were out there every day, all day and night, working to protect the city.

We continue to do our best to protect and serve at the 10th Precinct. Earlier this month, our midnight patrol officers—Cogliano, Giampiccolo, Fitzgerald, Serrano, and Pak, apprehended a man in possession of a stolen firearm; Officer Patton and Oriordan, along with officers from the MTS Precinct, apprehended 3 individuals regarding a stabbing. And in June and July, we had several good burglary arrests by officers Collins, Poon, Dastur, Rivera, Blake, Williams, Carbone, Collins, and Hamdani. Our Neighborhood Coordination Officers and Community Affairs Officers are out connecting with the public as well.

It’s certainly a challenging time for all of us—but we, the police and the public, will get through these difficult times together, and emerge united and stronger.

The 10th Precinct serves Chelsea, Clinton/Hell’s Kitchen South, and the Hudson Yards neighborhoods. At Build the Block meetings, Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs) speak with the public about neighborhood crime and safety concerns. Chelsea-area sectors A, B, and C, he said, are, respectively, 14th to 21st St., 21st to 29th St., and 29th to 43rd St. For info, click here. The 10th Precinct’s Community Affairs Office can be reached at 212-741-8226. The precinct’s main number is 212-741-8211. On Twitter: ‪@NYPD10Pct. On Facebook: www.facebook.com/NYPD10PCT. For access to NYPD crime statistics particular to the 10th Precinct, click here.

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