The 52nd Precinct Community Council, the 52nd Precinct, and Bronx Community Board 7 held a joint Holiday Toy Giveaway on the grounds of the precinct located at 3016 Webster Avenue in Norwood on Dec. 20, 2021 to bring some holiday cheer to local kids and families.

 

52nd Precinct Community Council president, Brenda Caldwell-Paris, district manager of Bronx Community District 7, Ischia Bravo, Community Affairs Officer for the 52nd precinct, Officer Crystal Reveron, and many other volunteers worked together to ensure the event was a success.

Highlights included a winter wonderland display, complete with snowmen, long-legged “toy soldiers” who were seen interacting with the kids on tall stilts, festive food and drinks, games, rides, and special guest, Santa Clause, who at one point was behind the wheel of an NYPD mini car. Seen interacting with the “toy soldiers,” one little boy said, “OMG, You are so tall!’

 

Meanwhile, a hairy-looking, green grinch was also busy doing the rounds on the day, intermingling with the kids, accompanied by a fancy convertible automobile, bedecked with the words, “Merry Grinchmas!”

 

Other sponsors of the event included the New York Yankees, Bronx Lexa New York, Salsa Con Fuego, and the Community Affairs Bureau of the NYPD.

 

 

Face coverings and social distancing were in order since the event was held amid the most recent wave of coronavirus case increases caused by the highly transmissible omicron variant.

 

Members of the NYPD Explorers, the youth wing of the department, were also on hand to help out on the day.

 

Pictured among some of the guests on the day were local residents, Blanca Miron, Ariadna Miron, Jeremiah Wehbe, and B. Reyes. Other attendees spotted at the event included Caldwell Paris, Reveron, District 11 City Councilman Eric Dinowitz, Democratic female district leader for A.D. 80, Irene Estrada, and the precinct’s recently installed commanding officer, Deputy Inspector Jeremy Scheublin.

 

The precinct later confirmed, via Twitter, “We distributed more than 1,000 [toys] to the children and families of the 52nd precinct, along with the 52nd precinct Community Council and  @BXCB71. #NYPDConnecting“

 

 

About 400 children were seen lining up for the event at one point and were greeted with hot cocoa, a short chat from Santa Clause, and some toys and gifts.

 

The 100th child and 200th child in line each received a new bike. The lucky winners were Esbrak Farea, 14, who was 100th in line, and Xavier Garcia who was 200th in line.

 

The stage area was filled with toys for the local children to pick out whatever they wanted, and everything went off smoothly.

 

At certain points during the event, the grinch was seen playfully stealing some of the toys and trying to run away with them, but amid protestation by the children and adults alike, later he had the good grace and change of heart to bring them back.

 

 

Meanwhile, local resident, Doug Condit, was also spotted enjoying the festive atmosphere and walking around, greeting the parents and children.

 

As the holiday period, while joyous for some, can also trigger a rise in domestic violence for others, the precinct had also been reminding community members, in the lead up to the year-end, that help was always available, writing in a December 18th tweet, “Our Domestic Violence Officers were out again in front of  @ThePlaza_HC, educating the community and letting them know what resources are available to them. If you have any questions, feel free to contact them at (718) 220-5843 @NYPDDV” 

 

Meanwhile, the precinct also reminded residents of the dangers of car and other types of theft over the holiday season and to slow down while driving. “AUTO THEFT ADVISORY Many people leave their car running and think they are safe if they have the key fob,” they wrote on Twitter. “DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR ALONE WHILE ITS ON!! Turn off your car & take the keys out. #CrimePreventionTips @NYPDCPD“

 

Happy Holidays from our Neighbors at the 52nd Precinct Council! Welcome to our new Commanding Officer, Deputy Inspector, Jeremy Scheublin. Thank You President, Brenda Cauldwell-Paris and the Executive Team. Thanks to our Explorers, Community Affairs and NCO’s. Happy Holidays. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/dgfjsHOx39

— Hon. Vanessa L. Gibson, MPA (She, Her, Hers) (@Vanessalgibson) December 20, 2021

 

 

The latest crime statistics for the 52nd precinct for the seven major crimes as of Jan. 30 are attached, along with a historical perspective, in order to see the crime trends over time.

 

 

The precinct community council held a special December monthly meeting on Dec. 16, at Estrella Restaurant, on East 204th Street in Norwood, during which the NYPD Explorers paid a special candlelit tribute to all those lost over the course of the year, and to date amid the pandemic, due to COVID-19 or from other causes.

 

We distributed more than 1,000 🧸 🏀 🚒 🚗 to the children and families of the 52nd precinct along with the 52nd precinct Community Council and @BXCB71 #NYPDConnecting pic.twitter.com/7rLx6FxqS0

— NYPD 52nd Precinct (@NYPD52Pct) December 24, 2021

In attendance at that meeting were Bravo, Caldwell-Paris, Reveron, Scheublin, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Assembly Member Nathalia Fernández, along with a number of other members of Bronx Community Board 7, David Cabo, and members of Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence (B.R.A.G.), members of the NYPD, Jennifer Tausig, executive director of Mosholu Preservation Corporation and of the Jerome Gun Hill Business Improvement District (BID) and, of course, residents, like Bedford Park resident, Sheila Sanchez, who was in attendance with her granddaughter. A special joint birthday was also celebrated on the night by two of the NYPD Explorers.

 

We distributed more than 1,000 🧸 🏀 🚒 🚗 to the children and families of the 52nd precinct along with the 52nd precinct Community Council and @BXCB71 #NYPDConnecting pic.twitter.com/OcEEmUApN4

— NYPD 52nd Precinct (@NYPD52Pct) December 24, 2021

 

Later, on Jan. 16, the precinct joined the Fordham Road NYC for “A Day of Giving,” to help out members of the local community, and following the  Twin Parks fire tragedy at 333, East 181st Street in Fordham Heights on Sunday, Jan. 9, a fire which claimed the lives of 17 people, including eight children, the 52nd precinct and community council were among many local Bronx organizations to hold a coat giveaway for victims and survivors of the tragedy.

 

We distributed more than 1,000 🧸 🏀 🚒 🚗 to the children and families of the 52nd precinct along with the 52nd precinct Community Council and @BXCB71 #NYPDConnecting pic.twitter.com/kuKpzpcY1v

— NYPD 52nd Precinct (@NYPD52Pct) December 24, 2021

 

Meanwhile, as reported, a fire broke out on the third floor of the 52nd precinct on Friday, Jan. 28. Officers said there were no injuries, and the cause of the fire is still to be determined.

 

We distributed more than 1,000 🧸 🏀 🚒 🚗 to the children and families of the 52nd precinct along with the 52nd precinct Community Council and @BXCB71 #NYPDConnecting pic.twitter.com/vYSD3Nzf2y

— NYPD 52nd Precinct (@NYPD52Pct) December 24, 2021

 

The 52nd precinct serves a northern portion of the Bronx, and is home to Bedford Park, Fordham, Kingsbridge, Norwood, Bronx Park, and University Heights. The January precinct community council meeting was cancelled, exceptionally, as officers paid their respects amid the funeral of former Officer Jason Rivera, promoted posthumously to the rank of detective, who was shot in Harlem earlier this month.

 

Today, our officers joined @nlpoaorg for “A Day Of Giving” on @FordhamRoadNYC. Thank you to everyone who participated in this event for our community. #NYPDConnecting pic.twitter.com/PSSoDSJo5B

— NYPD 52nd Precinct (@NYPD52Pct) January 17, 2022

 

To be added to the email distribution list for details of upcoming 52nd precinct community council meetings, residents can call the precinct community affairs office at (718) 220 5824. The meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. either via Zoom or in person. In addition to the precinct community council meetings, residents can find their local “Build the Block” precinct sector meetings here.