Sunday, June 24, 2007

New 68 Cap’n rolls into town



By Matthew Lysiak
The Brooklyn Paper

New 68th Precinct commanding officer Eric Rodriguez parked the NYPD’s mobile command post on the eastern side of his precinct last week — and promptly got an earful from hundreds of residents who took advantage of his visit.

But he didn’t mind.

“You are not going to find many communities like Bay Ridge,” said Rodriguez, who was promoted from sergeant last October. “Everyone had questions and concerns, and we think it is really great.

But Rodriguez may not have been the main attraction.

That’s because the command post on wheels is a hi-tech RV that can function as a police station (albeit with a smaller holding pen).

The flashy RV may have brought the people, but the idea was to give locals who may not have the chance, an opportunity to get to know their local law enforcement a little better, and their new Captain.

“Since our headquarters is all the way on 65th Street and Third Avenue, there are a lot of people we serve who don’t have an opportunity to get to know us,” said Rodriguez. “We stationed the command center in a place that is convenient for those people.”

The pimped-out ride was parked at the corner of 13th Avenue and 75th Street from last Wednesday through Friday.

During the 72-hour stretch, dozens of residents stopped by, some out of curiosity, others to give a piece of their mind.

Rodriguez was there to listen.

“Bay Ridge is very pro-police and that makes everyone’s life easier,” said Rodriguez. “But residents also don’t have a problem telling us what we are doing wrong, and sometimes that can be just as useful.”

Plus, it’s nice to show off the new car.

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