Chief of Police Joseph Wing met with Nassau News to discuss Crime in Hempstead.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Production Memo
Crime in Hempstead
This project was probably the most in-depth I’ve ever went in a news story. I truly experienced what it’s like to deal with people that don’t want to talk. I’ve been primarily a sports reporter and yes, at times, people don’t want to talk. But when it concerns issues like drug use in a neighborhood, people are more guarded. I basically wouldn’t “go away.” I’ve learned that you have to be proactive to get what you need. The District Attorney’s Office was helpful, but I didn’t actually get the interview until I went to the courthouse and asked to speak to Eric Phillips. Phillips is the VP of Communications for the DA’s office. I told him what I was doing and he said, “We’ll see.”
Then I got a call from him to do an interview, which really helped. Some of the challenges I faced were just mentioned. Other challenges that I faced were getting people on the phone, filming and information gathering. When I was filming at Terrace Avenue, I was scared. I know I was told to be careful, but my story wouldn’t have been as good without the shots of the street and footage of the parts of the village.
After I met with the Chief, I asked permission to film some police vehicles and vans. He obliged. Getting people on the phone is hard as well. I must have made at least 120 phone calls since I started this project. The Chief’s office knew my voice by memory after a week. I know the chief’s secretary, Regina, personally now. The way that I obtained both sources were constant phone calls. With the Chief, I just kept calling and calling and eventually got an interview. With the District Attorney, I did most of the same.
I learned that the future is in multimedia. 10 years from now, journalists are going to me “multimedia-ists.” They’ll be reporting, streaming, recording, etc. They’re doing that now, but it’ll increase as time goes on. I’m sure, at that time, the stuff I’m doing now will be what the eight-track was to the CD and what CD is to the IPOD. My advice for people who take this class in the future is to be savvy in computers and be a fast learner. This class is ever-changing because the web is that way.
Bill Blundell's six Elements:
This project was probably the most in-depth I’ve ever went in a news story. I truly experienced what it’s like to deal with people that don’t want to talk. I’ve been primarily a sports reporter and yes, at times, people don’t want to talk. But when it concerns issues like drug use in a neighborhood, people are more guarded. I basically wouldn’t “go away.” I’ve learned that you have to be proactive to get what you need. The District Attorney’s Office was helpful, but I didn’t actually get the interview until I went to the courthouse and asked to speak to Eric Phillips. Phillips is the VP of Communications for the DA’s office. I told him what I was doing and he said, “We’ll see.”
Then I got a call from him to do an interview, which really helped. Some of the challenges I faced were just mentioned. Other challenges that I faced were getting people on the phone, filming and information gathering. When I was filming at Terrace Avenue, I was scared. I know I was told to be careful, but my story wouldn’t have been as good without the shots of the street and footage of the parts of the village.
After I met with the Chief, I asked permission to film some police vehicles and vans. He obliged. Getting people on the phone is hard as well. I must have made at least 120 phone calls since I started this project. The Chief’s office knew my voice by memory after a week. I know the chief’s secretary, Regina, personally now. The way that I obtained both sources were constant phone calls. With the Chief, I just kept calling and calling and eventually got an interview. With the District Attorney, I did most of the same.
I learned that the future is in multimedia. 10 years from now, journalists are going to me “multimedia-ists.” They’ll be reporting, streaming, recording, etc. They’re doing that now, but it’ll increase as time goes on. I’m sure, at that time, the stuff I’m doing now will be what the eight-track was to the CD and what CD is to the IPOD. My advice for people who take this class in the future is to be savvy in computers and be a fast learner. This class is ever-changing because the web is that way.
Bill Blundell's six Elements:
- Some of the pivotal events in the timeline concerning crime in
- The extent of the problem is the gangs. The Salvadoran gang, MS-13 is a cause for concern in
- This is happening because of the increase of drug sales in the area. DA Kathleen Rice is cracking down on drug use with her anti-drug plan that is supposed to deter drug sale and use.
4. Everyone in the community is helped by institutions, like Hofstra and the Terrace Ave. Anti-Drug Initiative, when they implement programs that shine a light on a community that may or may not be crime ridden. Hofstra was recently chosen to have a presidential debate, which puts the national attention on
5. DA Kathleen Rice has recently been working with the
6. If crime keeps up in this community, you’ll see a town that will be forgotten by prospective home buyers, business owners and politicians. However, five or 10 years from now, if Rice and Wing keep up their initiative, we’ll see a town that was once seen as a gateway to
Crime in Hempstead Final Piece Transcript
(00:00)-There were 2,600 criminal offenses in Hempstead in 2007 and that many projected for 2008. 15 % of the criminal offenses have been related to drug activity. (00:10.60)
(00:10.67)-We started the Terrace-Bedell Initiative. The Hempstead Police Department partnered with the District Attorney’s office. Kathleen Rice is the District attorney. We brought in a program that was specifically designed to reduce crime on Terrace Avenue and Bedell Street. (00:28)
(00:28.07)-Terrace Avenue and Bedell Street have been the center of substance abuse and crime. Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice works with the community to combat it helping people with drug problems get off the streets. (00:40)
(00:40.07)-Drugs can be purchased and sold any time of the day right out there on the street of Terrace and Bedell. So we have worked with the community to get rid of the open air drug market and to work with some of the individuals who are selling drugs turn their life around. (00:56.87)
(00:56.93)-The initiative Rice is talking about offers dealers and users educational services and other mediums of advancement providing they do not engage in criminal activity. This could create a small but effective decrease in crime. (1:08.80)
(1:10.27)-Economics show that if we can drive the demand down, we can affect the supply side. So if we can drive customers away, theoretically there won’t be as many dealers. (1:21.74)
(1:23.20) District Attorney Kathleen Rice feels that drugs sparked in the Terrace and Bedell area with the increase in violent crime. Now, violent crime and drugs have been coupled together. With the help of the initiative, law enforcement will be able to eliminate both drugs and crime over time. (1:37.13)
(1:37.20)-There were problems that were chronic problems that were specific to this very area. There was very active drug dealing going on and the result in violent crime that happens where you have a lot of drug dealers in one area selling their drugs. (1:52.13)
(1:52.20)-As of right now, projections show a five and a half percent increase in crime in the coming months. I’m Rich Forestano, Nassau News. (1:59.80)
(00:10.67)-We started the Terrace-Bedell Initiative. The Hempstead Police Department partnered with the District Attorney’s office. Kathleen Rice is the District attorney. We brought in a program that was specifically designed to reduce crime on Terrace Avenue and Bedell Street. (00:28)
(00:28.07)-Terrace Avenue and Bedell Street have been the center of substance abuse and crime. Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice works with the community to combat it helping people with drug problems get off the streets. (00:40)
(00:40.07)-Drugs can be purchased and sold any time of the day right out there on the street of Terrace and Bedell. So we have worked with the community to get rid of the open air drug market and to work with some of the individuals who are selling drugs turn their life around. (00:56.87)
(00:56.93)-The initiative Rice is talking about offers dealers and users educational services and other mediums of advancement providing they do not engage in criminal activity. This could create a small but effective decrease in crime. (1:08.80)
(1:10.27)-Economics show that if we can drive the demand down, we can affect the supply side. So if we can drive customers away, theoretically there won’t be as many dealers. (1:21.74)
(1:23.20) District Attorney Kathleen Rice feels that drugs sparked in the Terrace and Bedell area with the increase in violent crime. Now, violent crime and drugs have been coupled together. With the help of the initiative, law enforcement will be able to eliminate both drugs and crime over time. (1:37.13)
(1:37.20)-There were problems that were chronic problems that were specific to this very area. There was very active drug dealing going on and the result in violent crime that happens where you have a lot of drug dealers in one area selling their drugs. (1:52.13)
(1:52.20)-As of right now, projections show a five and a half percent increase in crime in the coming months. I’m Rich Forestano, Nassau News. (1:59.80)
Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice-Transcript
Forestano: Nassau News, it’s a community project through Hofstra University. (00:02)
Rice: Ok. (00:02)
Forestano: Hempstead has been given the reputation as being a high crime area. What is the one area that you believe is the biggest contributor to this so called reputation? (00:12)
Rice: (00:12)-Well there’s one area we’ve been actually working on very hard this year. We unveiled an initiative earlier this year involving one specific area of the village of Hempstead where a lot of the crime in the county comes out of and this area is home to the most or was home to the most notorious open-air drug market. And by that I mean drugs can be purchased or sold any time of the day right out there on the street on Terrace and Bedell.
Rice: (00:45) So we have worked with the community to get rid of the open-air drug market, to work with, help some of the individuals turn their life around. We’re working on economic development in that area, community development. Working with social service agencies from the county, working with the mayor, the village police department in a community effort to turn this one area around in hopes that we will be able to achieve sustained crime reduction in that area. (01:15)
Forestano: (1:16)-That’s the Terrace-Avenue Anti Drug Initiative correct? (01:18)
Rice: (01:18)-Right.
Forestano: Can you explain the origins of this program? (01:21)
Rice: (01:22) Well we were uh, we were focusing on that area because we realized that traditional law enforcement efforts were not really successful in addressing the drug problem there that has been very entrenched and has been for decades and decades. (01:37)
Rice: (01:38)-We reached out to the community and asked them if they would partner with us on this initiative that has been done a couple places around the country. And actually since we have done it, it has since been adopted by the Department of Justice as a crime reduction plan across the country. And it involves just that, getting the community involved, identifying who the drug dealers are, removing them, saturating the area with law enforcement and taking a zero tolerance policy to crime in that area so that you eventually achieve crime reduction through those efforts. (02:12).
Forestano: (02:14)-Did you feel this program would be a good for this type of neighborhood because of the drug related activity or just crime in general? (02:18)
Rice (02:19)-Well I think that there were problems, chronic problems specific to this very area. There was very active drug dealing going on and the result in violent crime that happens where you have a lot of drug dealers in one area selling their drugs (02:37). So, it was specific to this area, this initiative and the way that it is modeled. The reason we implemented it in this area is because it was specific to this area and the problems, the crime problems we’re finding in the Terrace and Bedell area. (02:53)
Forestano (02:57) Do you have other programs that target drugs in other communities on Long Island? (03:01)
Rice: (03:01)- Well this is the first time we’ve done this initiative but we have proactively tried to go out and deal with the drug issues. This is not the only place where there are drug issues, there are throughout the County. We have other programs, we do early intervention where we try to have activities for kids to keep them away from drugs, to keep them away from crime. We have soccer programs, we have mentoring programs, and we are always trying to think of creative ways to deal with the drug problem. That is not just specific to Nassau County but as a problem in many communities across this country. (03:36)
Forestano: (03:37) What would your message be to the youth of this community that have been harmed by drugs? (03:41)
Rice: (03:42)-Well my message is one of hope. If we all as a community ban together to try to address chronic crime problems in the specific areas throughout this county, all of us are going to be better off. Children will get a better education, there will be more job opportunities for people, families will be better off, people will be able to educate their children and keep them safe, and that will make more for a safe, economically robust community. And that’s what we’re optimistic will happen across this county. (04:14)
Forestano: (04:14) Do you have any recent results of this initiative? I once read that they use video surveillance to catch drug dealers in the act. I interviewed Chief Joe Wing, he was telling me about that. (04:25).
Rice: Yes that is one of the investigative tools that we have used in this initiative and in others. I’m sorry, but do you want me to talk about that? (04:35)
Forestano: (04:36) Oh yes please, if you could elaborate. What recent success have you had with this initiative? (04:42)
Rice: (04:42)-Well it’s too early to say that this is a success. This is a long-term initiative with very long-term goals. But in the short term, we have seen positive changes in this area. We are part of developing business groups that we believe are going to be able to help turn the village around from an economic perspective, helping also with getting certain individuals hooked up with social services, help them get a high school education, jobs, job training for jobs and all those kind of things. So were very optimistic about all those efforts in that area and hopefully beyond. (05:25)
Forestano: (05:27)-Some of your critics have questioned why you chose a predominately African-American neighborhood against say like a white neighborhood. What is your response to that? (05:34)
Rice: (05:35)-Well this community chose itself. Any allegation involving motivation having to do with race are really just distractions from the main goal here. We have a community who wants to be able to raise their children in a safe environment and they were willing to partner with us because they recognize all the attempts made from a law enforcement perspective in the past just had not worked for them. And they were still faced with drug dealers out on the street at all times of the day when their kids are coming home from school, when they were walking them to school. So this was really the community dictated this initiative and we believe that, we have a lot of hope and they have a lot of hope and we believe that this initiative is going to be successful because of their involvement. (06:26)
Rice: Ok. (00:02)
Forestano: Hempstead has been given the reputation as being a high crime area. What is the one area that you believe is the biggest contributor to this so called reputation? (00:12)
Rice: (00:12)-Well there’s one area we’ve been actually working on very hard this year. We unveiled an initiative earlier this year involving one specific area of the village of Hempstead where a lot of the crime in the county comes out of and this area is home to the most or was home to the most notorious open-air drug market. And by that I mean drugs can be purchased or sold any time of the day right out there on the street on Terrace and Bedell.
Rice: (00:45) So we have worked with the community to get rid of the open-air drug market, to work with, help some of the individuals turn their life around. We’re working on economic development in that area, community development. Working with social service agencies from the county, working with the mayor, the village police department in a community effort to turn this one area around in hopes that we will be able to achieve sustained crime reduction in that area. (01:15)
Forestano: (1:16)-That’s the Terrace-Avenue Anti Drug Initiative correct? (01:18)
Rice: (01:18)-Right.
Forestano: Can you explain the origins of this program? (01:21)
Rice: (01:22) Well we were uh, we were focusing on that area because we realized that traditional law enforcement efforts were not really successful in addressing the drug problem there that has been very entrenched and has been for decades and decades. (01:37)
Rice: (01:38)-We reached out to the community and asked them if they would partner with us on this initiative that has been done a couple places around the country. And actually since we have done it, it has since been adopted by the Department of Justice as a crime reduction plan across the country. And it involves just that, getting the community involved, identifying who the drug dealers are, removing them, saturating the area with law enforcement and taking a zero tolerance policy to crime in that area so that you eventually achieve crime reduction through those efforts. (02:12).
Forestano: (02:14)-Did you feel this program would be a good for this type of neighborhood because of the drug related activity or just crime in general? (02:18)
Rice (02:19)-Well I think that there were problems, chronic problems specific to this very area. There was very active drug dealing going on and the result in violent crime that happens where you have a lot of drug dealers in one area selling their drugs (02:37). So, it was specific to this area, this initiative and the way that it is modeled. The reason we implemented it in this area is because it was specific to this area and the problems, the crime problems we’re finding in the Terrace and Bedell area. (02:53)
Forestano (02:57) Do you have other programs that target drugs in other communities on Long Island? (03:01)
Rice: (03:01)- Well this is the first time we’ve done this initiative but we have proactively tried to go out and deal with the drug issues. This is not the only place where there are drug issues, there are throughout the County. We have other programs, we do early intervention where we try to have activities for kids to keep them away from drugs, to keep them away from crime. We have soccer programs, we have mentoring programs, and we are always trying to think of creative ways to deal with the drug problem. That is not just specific to Nassau County but as a problem in many communities across this country. (03:36)
Forestano: (03:37) What would your message be to the youth of this community that have been harmed by drugs? (03:41)
Rice: (03:42)-Well my message is one of hope. If we all as a community ban together to try to address chronic crime problems in the specific areas throughout this county, all of us are going to be better off. Children will get a better education, there will be more job opportunities for people, families will be better off, people will be able to educate their children and keep them safe, and that will make more for a safe, economically robust community. And that’s what we’re optimistic will happen across this county. (04:14)
Forestano: (04:14) Do you have any recent results of this initiative? I once read that they use video surveillance to catch drug dealers in the act. I interviewed Chief Joe Wing, he was telling me about that. (04:25).
Rice: Yes that is one of the investigative tools that we have used in this initiative and in others. I’m sorry, but do you want me to talk about that? (04:35)
Forestano: (04:36) Oh yes please, if you could elaborate. What recent success have you had with this initiative? (04:42)
Rice: (04:42)-Well it’s too early to say that this is a success. This is a long-term initiative with very long-term goals. But in the short term, we have seen positive changes in this area. We are part of developing business groups that we believe are going to be able to help turn the village around from an economic perspective, helping also with getting certain individuals hooked up with social services, help them get a high school education, jobs, job training for jobs and all those kind of things. So were very optimistic about all those efforts in that area and hopefully beyond. (05:25)
Forestano: (05:27)-Some of your critics have questioned why you chose a predominately African-American neighborhood against say like a white neighborhood. What is your response to that? (05:34)
Rice: (05:35)-Well this community chose itself. Any allegation involving motivation having to do with race are really just distractions from the main goal here. We have a community who wants to be able to raise their children in a safe environment and they were willing to partner with us because they recognize all the attempts made from a law enforcement perspective in the past just had not worked for them. And they were still faced with drug dealers out on the street at all times of the day when their kids are coming home from school, when they were walking them to school. So this was really the community dictated this initiative and we believe that, we have a lot of hope and they have a lot of hope and we believe that this initiative is going to be successful because of their involvement. (06:26)
Chief of Police Joseph Wing-Transcript
Ben Golden collaborates when interviewing the Chief of Police Joseph Wing:
(00:00)Forestano: From my own observations, Terrace Avenue is a very high crime ridden area and there has been recent stories in Newsday about it. Are there any special concentrations of police in that area or like any special techniques you’re using to combat crime? (00:14)
(00:15) Wing-We actually are. On January 8th, we started the Terrace-Bedell initiative. The Hempstead Police Department partnered with the District Attorney’s office. Kathleen Rice is the District Attorney. We brought in a program specifically designed to reduce crime on Terrace Avenue and Bedell Street. (00:35)
(00:36) Wing: What it does, one small piece of it was we took about 14 individuals and we gave them an opportunity not to be arrested as long as they agreed not to engage in criminal activity. We also, in an effort to help them, offered them educational services, health services, resume writing services, if they needed social services. Whatever their needs were, we wanted to make sure those were met, in an effort so that can stay out of criminal activity.
(01:15)-But that was really just a small piece of it. The major portion of it is the partnership we formed residents in the area, with business people from the area, with local clergy from the area. The relationships that we’re forming, what the police officers we’re forming with residents and these other groups are going a long way and have gone a long way just in the short months we’ve done this. If you go to Terrace Avenue now, you see a market difference between what it was and what it is today, and you can speak to some of the residents and they’ll tell you their feelings of safety and security have grown exponentially.
(01:55)-compared to where it was before January 8th. We think the program is working. Statistically it’s a little early to come out and say that it’s been a success statistically. The softer side of it is that the residents feel that it’s successful, that they’re feeling safer, that they are enjoying their relationship with their police department. Things like that are very hard to quantify, but yet they’re very important when it comes to community relations and how crime is being handled.
(00:00)Forestano: From my own observations, Terrace Avenue is a very high crime ridden area and there has been recent stories in Newsday about it. Are there any special concentrations of police in that area or like any special techniques you’re using to combat crime? (00:14)
(00:15) Wing-We actually are. On January 8th, we started the Terrace-Bedell initiative. The Hempstead Police Department partnered with the District Attorney’s office. Kathleen Rice is the District Attorney. We brought in a program specifically designed to reduce crime on Terrace Avenue and Bedell Street. (00:35)
(00:36) Wing: What it does, one small piece of it was we took about 14 individuals and we gave them an opportunity not to be arrested as long as they agreed not to engage in criminal activity. We also, in an effort to help them, offered them educational services, health services, resume writing services, if they needed social services. Whatever their needs were, we wanted to make sure those were met, in an effort so that can stay out of criminal activity.
(01:15)-But that was really just a small piece of it. The major portion of it is the partnership we formed residents in the area, with business people from the area, with local clergy from the area. The relationships that we’re forming, what the police officers we’re forming with residents and these other groups are going a long way and have gone a long way just in the short months we’ve done this. If you go to Terrace Avenue now, you see a market difference between what it was and what it is today, and you can speak to some of the residents and they’ll tell you their feelings of safety and security have grown exponentially.
(01:55)-compared to where it was before January 8th. We think the program is working. Statistically it’s a little early to come out and say that it’s been a success statistically. The softer side of it is that the residents feel that it’s successful, that they’re feeling safer, that they are enjoying their relationship with their police department. Things like that are very hard to quantify, but yet they’re very important when it comes to community relations and how crime is being handled.
Crime in Hempstead-Print Version
Crime in the village of Hempstead, specifically drug use and distribution, has deterred the growth of the community for quite some time.
There were over 2,600 criminal offenses in Hempstead in 2007. That number is projected to be matched in 2008. There were seven murders all of last year and there have been five this year through Apr 1. Where is this going?
Areas like Terrace Avenue and Bedell Street have become the lowlights of a village that use to service as the “hub” of Long Island. People like Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice and Hempstead Chief of Police Joseph Wing are hard at work in ridding Hempstead of violence and drug use.
“On January 8th, we started the Terrace-Bedell Initiative,” Chief Wing said. “The Hempstead Police Department partnered with the District Attorney’s office.”
The Terrace-Bedell Initiative was put in place as a precursor to future initiatives that will rid neighborhoods of drugs and violence. The program implemented in Hempstead is based off an initiative that was implemented in North Carolina called, “The Ashburton Ave. Partnership.”
“Recently, we took 14 individuals and gave them the opportunity to not be arrested as long as they agreed not to engage in criminal activity,” Wing said. “In an effort to help them, we offered them educational services, health and awareness services etc. to aid them.”
Rice, a Democrat, unveiled the plan during a meeting at the African-American Museum in Hempstead, near one of the county's largest, most violent and longest-running open-air drug markets.
Some critics of this initiative have questioned as to why a predominately African American neighborhood was chosen for this and not a mixed or Caucasian sector.
“This community chose itself,” Kathleen Rice said. “Any allegation involving motivations having to do with race are just distractions from the main goal here.”
The goal of the initiative is to create a safer environment, which use to be known in that area of Hempstead.
“We have a community that wants to be able to raise their children in a safe environment.”
With violence and drugs coupled together, it’s hard to find a reason as to why this neighborhood should not have been chosen.
“The community dictated the initiative,” Rice said. “We believe this will be successful because of their involvement.”
To view a comprehensive study of Hempstead, NY and statistical information that covers demographics concerning income, race demographics, housing rates, etc. click here
To see a comprehensive spreadsheet of criminal activity reported from 2002-2006 in all of Nassau County, NY, click here
There were over 2,600 criminal offenses in Hempstead in 2007. That number is projected to be matched in 2008. There were seven murders all of last year and there have been five this year through Apr 1. Where is this going?
Areas like Terrace Avenue and Bedell Street have become the lowlights of a village that use to service as the “hub” of Long Island. People like Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice and Hempstead Chief of Police Joseph Wing are hard at work in ridding Hempstead of violence and drug use.
“On January 8th, we started the Terrace-Bedell Initiative,” Chief Wing said. “The Hempstead Police Department partnered with the District Attorney’s office.”
The Terrace-Bedell Initiative was put in place as a precursor to future initiatives that will rid neighborhoods of drugs and violence. The program implemented in Hempstead is based off an initiative that was implemented in North Carolina called, “The Ashburton Ave. Partnership.”
“Recently, we took 14 individuals and gave them the opportunity to not be arrested as long as they agreed not to engage in criminal activity,” Wing said. “In an effort to help them, we offered them educational services, health and awareness services etc. to aid them.”
Rice, a Democrat, unveiled the plan during a meeting at the African-American Museum in Hempstead, near one of the county's largest, most violent and longest-running open-air drug markets.
Some critics of this initiative have questioned as to why a predominately African American neighborhood was chosen for this and not a mixed or Caucasian sector.
“This community chose itself,” Kathleen Rice said. “Any allegation involving motivations having to do with race are just distractions from the main goal here.”
The goal of the initiative is to create a safer environment, which use to be known in that area of Hempstead.
“We have a community that wants to be able to raise their children in a safe environment.”
With violence and drugs coupled together, it’s hard to find a reason as to why this neighborhood should not have been chosen.
“The community dictated the initiative,” Rice said. “We believe this will be successful because of their involvement.”
To view a comprehensive study of Hempstead, NY and statistical information that covers demographics concerning income, race demographics, housing rates, etc. click here
To see a comprehensive spreadsheet of criminal activity reported from 2002-2006 in all of Nassau County, NY, click here
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