Apr. 17, 2023 By Anthony Medina
A return to the usually cooler venue for the 104th Precinct Civilian Observation Patrol’s General Membership Meeting at Christ The King High School, was especially fitting for the record breaking day for heat temperatures in New York City, on Thursday, April. 13.
The promise of warmer weather this season also means more work ahead for 104COP/G-COP, as President Elizabeth Delacruz emphasized in the late night meeting.
Members are expected to participate in the free recycling event at the Bandshell Parking lot in Forest Park on Sunday, April. 30. State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. and Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar collaborated to sponsor the recycling event. Representatives from both offices were in attendance.
Two other notable events on the G-COP calendar include The Parish of Transfiguration – St. Stanislaus Kostka anniversary celebration in Maspeth for its 265 years of service on Sunday, April 22, and the upcoming memorial day parades in May.
Later conversations at the meeting pointed to public safety and the recurring issues in the greater Glendale and Maspeth neighborhoods, including catalytic converter thefts, car break-ins and the rise of smoke shops.
The concerns over these smoke shops aren’t related to the use of cannabis, but rather the recent crime related incidents that they’ve brought to multiple city neighbors.
In one incident, a 20-year-old man was shot and killed inside of the Plug Smoke Shop in Richmond Hill, on Saturday, March 18. Another shooting death of a 36-year-old man took place inside of a smoke shop in the Bronx on Sunday, April. 9.
“They’re not only bringing in people to buy whatever they’re selling,” Delacruz said. “People hang around there and there’s always fighting [and] arguments.”
Delacruz continues to talk with the 104th Precinct about these crime issues and remains hopeful that further participation in community events will help raise awareness to the 104COP mission to observe and report.
The group is expecting few upcoming changes in leadership as elections are expected to reach a final decision in June or July.