Residents Worried About Crime, Gunshots

About a dozen residents of Boerum Hill and Carroll Gardens that live near the Wyckoff and Gowanus housing projects attended the 76 Precinct Community Council meeting Tuesday night.

Two groups of residents - from Warren Street between Bond and Nevins, and Baltic Street and Hoyt Street - expressed concern about gun violence and overall crime.

"We're all really nervous about it," said one Baltic Street resident, who did not want to give her name for an article. "We just want to make sure the shootings aren't going to keep happening."

On Oct. 9, at Hoyt and Baltic streets, on Sept. 21, at Hoyt and Warren streets and throughout September and early October there were numerous reports of shots fired in the vicinity of the Gowanus and Wyckoff housing projects.

Captain Jack Lewis tried to calm the fears of those in attendance by saying that every call to 911 gets answered.

"The proper protocol is we respond," he said, adding that at the beginning of October a man was arrested for possession of a 9MM gun, and that they had reason to believe he was responsible for some of the reports of shots fired in September.

"The most common underlying symptom for shots fired is drug sales," said Lewis, adding that they often have an idea who is involved in the shootings, and they are working to find those people.

One person said after he heard shots fired near Degraw and Hoyt streets on Oct. 15 around 11 p.m. he called 911, but never heard any police arrive.

Lewis said that he wouldn't. They don't turn on their sirens because then the perps will run away, he said.

Members of the Warren Street block association said their block had experienced an uptick in crime since the summer, when they often had a police officer stationed on the corner.

"The visible presence this summer made all the difference," said Marc Tremitiere.

Since then, a sofa had been set on fire and wheels were stolen from a car, said residents.

Another resident of Warren Street, Richard Rollison, said he had security cameras, and wanted them to be installed on street lights. He was told he had to go to DOT for permission.