WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey April 5, 2006 UPDATED with Pix, 1:40 A.M. E.D.T. April 6, 2006: As first reported by WPCNR Wednesday, the Department of Public Safety announced a sweeping reorganization of its police operations  “to change (the department) from a bureaucratic system to a community-based service organization,” in the words of Department of Public Safety Commissioner Dr. Frank Straub at a news conference and promotion ceremony Wednesday afternoon at Public Safety Headquarters.

White Plains "Precincts" Photo WPCNR News.

Straub said  White Plains would be divided into three districts, reporting to new Assistant Chief Anne Fitzsimmons. The three districts are the North Area, under the command of Lieutenant Kevin Christopher; the Central Business District, under command of Captain Paul Lundin; and the South Area, under the leadership of Lieutenant Elizabeth Seit.  Assistant Chief Anne Fitzsimmons, promoted to Assistant Chief Wednesday, is in command of the three districts.

Martin Gleeson, Senior Counsel to the Commissioner and media spokesperson described this system as similar to the New York Police Department Precinct system, where the officers in command of the districts were solely responsible for the policing and safety of their “neighborhoods” going forward.

Gleeson told WPCNR that contacts would be made with neighborhoods beginning shortly. Businesses might be contacted in person by officers, and neighborhood associations would be addressed, and e-mail and phone numbers made available for residents of neighborhoods to call to report on what is going on in their neighborhoods, conditions, or activity.

Straub said the Narcotics Division would be reporting to the Neighborhood Conditions Unit or NCU, under the direction of Lieutenant Michael Knox, in order that the narcotics squad could respond, conduct investigations and intervene more efficiently on suspected drug activity. The NCU would be at direct disposal of District Commanders  Lundin, Seit and Christopher,  to facilitate  police preemptive efforts, or respond to drug and vice conditions, and unsafe housing that come to the attention of the Commanders.

Detectives 20/7

Captain Nicholas Kralik was announced as head of the Detective Division. Commissioner Straub said  the reorganization makes detectives available for immediate investigation 7 days a week, 20 hours a day by agreement with the police union, to investigate matters immediately brought to their attention by the three Neighborhood Districts.

Inspector Ed Ignaszewski being sworn in Wednesday -- New Ops Head. Photo, WPCNR News

Newly promoted Inspector Ed Ignaszewski, Straub announced now heads the Operations Division which includes the Neighborhood Conditions Unit, Patrol and Traffic. Straub said Sergeant Howard Tribble and Sergeant Denis Doherty would be joining the NCU under Lt. Knox.

Assistant Chief Anne Fitzsimmons, Commander of the Three Precincts with First Deputy Commissioner Dr. Charles Jennings. Photo, WPCNR News.

New First Deputy Commissioner Dr. Charles Jennings (promoted at today’s ceremony and news conference) told WPCNR he would be doing “pretty much what he’s been doing before,” strategic planning and management of the Fire Bureau. Under Dr. Jennings' leadership, structural fires declined 21% since 2003; a new fireman onsite personnel dispatch  system was introduced, and the Rescue 88 unit was created.

Deputy Commissioner Daniel Jackson. Photo, WPCNR News

New Deputy Commissioner Daniel Jackson, Commissioner Straub said is overseeing bureau operations, coordinating crime control strategies and managing the Compstat process. Jackson told WPCNR he and First Deputy Commissioner Jennings and Dr. Straub work as a team in setting policies and making decisions. Jackson said the North Area, Central Business District and South Areas system introduced today would begin to be implemented immediately.

Reach Out Expected.

Commissioner Jackson said he expected the three commanders to be reaching out to neighborhood associations, and giving the residents and businesses of those areas officers to contact to report neighborhood concerns and situations. He noted, too that he expected officers to routinely attend neighborhood association meetings, and to become more in touch with the areas they patrol.

Jackson noted that he wanted residents to know the policeman in the patrol car by name, not just by patrol car. Asked if foot patrols (police officer on a walking beat) would make a return to White Plains, Deputy Commissioner Jackson said that was a possibility.

It is not clear at this time whether patrol officers would only patrol in one of the three areas or whether they would be rotated through the three White Plains "Precincts."