'Cure Violence' Program Coming To Crown Heights Precinct

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — An anti-violence program will expand to Crown Heights' second police precinct this year, the mayor announced.

The 71st Precinct will be one of five across New York City where "Cure Violence" — a crisis management program aimed at stopping violence before it happens — will expand starting this summer.

Brooklyn's 69th and 70th precincts, as well as the 103rd Precinct in Queens and 49th Precinct in the Bronx will also get the program.

"All of them will now have this extraordinary initiative saving lives, stopping conflict, avoiding retaliation, doing the fundamental community-based things that go far beyond our normal conception of public safety," de Blasio said Tuesday. "This is the new way of doing public safety."

The expansion was first announced last year by Mayor Bill de Blasio as part of a package of reforms prompted by police brutality protests.

It also comes as the city grapples with an ongoing surge in shootings.

Cure Violence, currently in 17 of the city's most violent precincts, focuses on identifying those "at risk" of committing or being a victim of violence and mediating disputes.

Crown Heights' 77th Precinct, which covers the northern portion of the neighborhood, got the program in 2018.

De Blasio said the expansion will also include investing in the Cure Violence workforce with the aim of doubling its staff citywide by June 1.

He has not yet announced where the Cure Violence sites will be set up in each neighborhood.