In a confidential adjustment, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has recently replaced the head of its Central Park precinct amid a concerning rise in crimes including burglaries, severe assaults and rapes within the iconic city park. Captain Anthony Lavino acknowledged his reassignment to East Harlem’s 23rd Precinct in a communiqué to local inhabitants, expressing gratitude for their cooperation during his tenure in Central Park. ‘It is with immediate effect that I assume my new role as the commanding officer of the 23rd Precinct’, he engraved in the message. Lavino’s role has now been assumed by Captain Timothy Magliente, reassigned from Chelsea’s 10th Precinct where he served since 2022.
However, the park’s security problems continue to trouble observers. Central Park has experienced a substantial escalation in robbery cases, the count of which has surged to 37 this year, a potent leap from 18 the previous year. According to NYPD records, the numbers have risen alarmingly, marking a 61% increase from the total recorded cases in 2023. This significant rise signifies the highest recorded incidents since the late 90s, following the 80 robbery cases identified in the park in 1998.
The surge in criminal cases within the park is not merely isolated to robberies. The precinct has also reported an exaggerated rise in severe assaults, with 11 incidents already registered this year compared to eight during the corresponding period in the previous year. This reflects a 38% increase in felony assaults, as per the recent data.
Additionally, the number of rape cases reported in the park has risen in the current year. Disturbingly, there has been a rise in rape incidents, the count going up from two to three in just a span of a year.
One of such appalling incidents occurred on the morning of October 26 when a woman was brutally assaulted, with the aggressor attempting to rape her near 85 East Drive positioned at the park’s northern end, according to NYPD reports. The assaulter reportedly assaulted the woman, forcing her over a metal fence and punching her several times in an attempted sexual assault. Officers are still in pursuit of the culprit.
The escalating crime rates within Central Park has alarmed local residents and regular visitors, triggering fear and anxiety about safety in what was once a peaceful, beautiful, public space. Interviewed park visitors expressed their unease to The Post, recounting their experiences with crime in the park.
One such visitor reminisced, ‘When I first started living here, my initial thoughts often revolved around visiting the park. But then, there was the infamous sun-tanning incident.’ The aforementioned incident refers to a public assault that took place in broad daylight back in June, where a homeless individual attacked a 21-year-old woman soaking in the sun.
The young woman continued, ‘In well-frequented public spaces like these, and especially considering it occurred during daylight hours, you’d think such incidents would be unlikely. But that was a harsh wake-up call for me’. She pondered whether a mere change in precinct leadership was a viable solution to the rising crime.
The woman questioned the NYPD’s strategy, saying, ‘What’s the plan moving forward?’ She expressed her skepticism about the efficacy of transferring commanding officers in curbing crime rates. ‘Is a different commanding officer expected to bring a better crime prevention strategy, or set better objectives? I’m not sure if that’s the solution we’re seeking.’
Following the attack on the sunbathing woman, NYPD officials outlined a new strategy intending to increase surveillance across the park, including deploying more security cameras. But the efficacy of such measures continues to be a topic of debate.
According to some city officials, NYPD’s actions are akin to rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship. One of them stressed, ‘It’s not all about leadership alone – you need proper neighborhood policing’. She emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive approach to enhance the park’s security, which should include additional personnel and increased surveillance.
She imparted further insight, ‘Increasing the number of police officers on patrol and implementing better monitoring facilities have been consistent demands’. She opined that these measures could help deal with the current concerns plaguing Central Park, adding, ‘He’s always been advocating for increasing manpower strength and camera coverage’.