Rollout Of NYPD's Community Policing Initiative Almost Complete

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Three years after it was first introduced in the city, the NYPD says community policing will soon be in effect in all of its residential precincts.

This week, the 104th Precinct in Ridgewood, Queens will be the final precinct to rollout community policing.

"I can tell you in 2018 this is where we need to be as a police department and this is where we need to be as a city of 8.6 million New Yorkers," NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill said.

NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan says community policing builds trust and helps police fight crime more effectively.

#NeighborhoodPolicing has helped make NYC the safest big city in America, and every community across this great city will be part of our crime fighting philosophy by the end of the month. Join us #now to learn more ⬇️ https://t.co/khi5bTDztI

— Chief Terence Monahan (@NYPDChiefofDept) October 22, 2018

The proof is in the numbers, he says.

"If you look at total crime in the last three years in the city down eight percent, murder down 16.2 percent, shootings down an incredible 34.9 percent over the last three years. All of this accomplished while making 26 percent less arrests," Monahan said.

Community policing was first introduced to the city back in May 2015 and Monahan says they wanted to take time to get it right.

"This isn't just a couple of cops, this is all 55,000 members of the NYPD working together under this philosophy," Monahan said.