Brooklyn Neighborhood's Innovative Experiment in Transforming Law Enforcement Dynamics

Dushoun Almond, known as Bigga, a member of the Brooklyn In Violence Out, in Brownsville, New York on April 26, 2023. (Credit: Amir Hamja / The New York Times)

By: Adonis Armstrong

In an effort to transform the dynamics of law enforcement in New York, a neighborhood in Brooklyn is beginning an innovative experiment.

The New York Times published an article on Sunday June 4th providing insights into a recent project. In April, residents of Brownsville took part in Brownsville In Violence Out, an initiative where community members, rather than the police, respond to minor street crimes.

Based on the report, individuals involved in Brownsville In Violence Out take turns serving as patrols for a period of five days on two specific blocks multiple times a year. Rather than having law enforcement authorities respond to lower-level incidents, these cases are redirected to the local community members. The police closely observe the residents' actions and only intervene in the event of a significant incident or when an arrest is required, as the civilians lack the authority to make arrests themselves.

In a specific incident, it was reported that a group of teenagers was observed running up Pitkin Avenue in Brownsville, shouting and pursuing a girl. The New York Times shared that five undercover police officers were present, witnessing the situation unfold. Across the street, a group of six men dressed in purple and gray sweatshirts and jeans stood. One of the officers commented, "They got it." As soon as the teenagers noticed the men, they began to slow down. The members of B.I.V.O. (Brownsville In Violence Out) gestured for the teenagers to change their course, and they dispersed as the girl they had initially chased proceeded down a side street.

According to The New York Times, the ongoing endeavor has yielded positive outcomes, including voluntary surrender of illegal firearms, prevention of shoplifting incidents, and the prevention of a bodega robbery. This enterprise is carried out under the umbrella of the Brownsville Safety Alliance, a collective comprising local and city organizations, law enforcement officials, and representatives from the Kings County District Attorney's Office. The primary objective of this alliance is to decrease the involvement of individuals with the criminal justice system, fostering a safer community.

Over the course of the next three years, the city has allocated $2.1 million in funding to facilitate the collaboration between local groups and the alliance, enabling them to work together as a cohesive unit throughout the year.

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