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Local Police Precinct 34 is in the middle of major changes to its leadership, as Deputy Inspector José Navarro has recently been reassigned, despite active protests from community leaders and elected officials.
An Inwood schoolteacher on her way to work early this past Friday morning was raped, allegedly by an off-duty police officer from the 33rd Police Precinct. A nearby resident was awakened by the noise and called 911, after which police officer arrived within minutes.
The suspect, Michael V. Peña, was arrested at the scene on Fri., Aug. 19th, and has since been charged with one count of first degree rape, two counts of a criminal sex act in the first degree and three counts of predatory sexual assault. He is being held on $500,000 cash bail or $1 million bond.
The news that the suspect in the latest sexual assault in northern Manhattan is reportedly a member of law enforcement has rattled local residents.
Early Sunday evening, a woman who lives on Park Terrace East who did not want to give her name said she was “horrified” as she walked past the crime scene.
“I cannot believe that this happened here, and that a cop is involved…,” she said, shaking her head.
“It is sickening.”
The assault comes at a challenging time of upheaval for local enforcement.
According to NYPD crime statistics, overall crime in the 34th Precinct as of August 7th is up nearly 23 percent, while rape is up more than 27 percent. This comes after a series of sexual assaults and attacks against women this summer throughout Washington Heights and Inwood that have alarmed many residents.
And Deputy Inspector José Navarro of the 34th Precinct, who had been recently promoted from captain, has been reassigned – despite the protests of local community leaders and elected officials.
Just last week, 34th Precinct Community Council President George Espinal, circulated a letter of protest against Navarro’s then-imminent reassignment, citing Navarro’s ongoing engagement with community residents and the need for stability as reasons for him to remain at his post.
Those calls went unheeded by top police officials, and Deputy Inspector Navarro was reassigned.
In his stead, Deputy Inspector Barry Buzzetti, formerly of the 48th Precinct in the Fordham area of the Bronx, has been newly assigned at the 34. Buzzetti had been at his post for a mere 3 days when Officer Peña’s arrest took place.
Aida Haddock, long time Community Council President at the 48th Precinct in the Bronx, would say only that she had found Buzzetti to be “community-minded” in her experience.
For Councilman Robert Jackson, who denounced the attack as “terrible news,” the subsequent response from both residents and police was significant.
“Community engagement is very, very important,” said Jackson. “That this woman, who lives nearby, heard something and called police, and that the officers, from all reports, responded within minutes- all of that is to be commended.”
He urged residents to continue to be vigilant, and to speak up and out about quality of life issues, small and large.
State Senator Adriano Espaillat, who lives a block away from the site of the attack, called the crime “deplorable”.
“It's especially jarring when the alleged perpetrator is a member of law enforcement," he continued.
Peña is due back in court Aug. 24th.
In response to the attack, local elected officials are organizing a community meeting on public safety at 6:30 pm this Wednesday, August 24 at the Northeastern Academy High School located on West 215th Street and Park Terrace East (one block west of Broadway). The meeting is co-sponsored by State Senator Adriano Espaillat, Assemblymembers Herman D. Farrell Jr. and Guillermo Linares, Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez, and Borough President Scott Stringer.
Also invited are Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, District Attorney Cyrus Vance, and newly assigned Deputy Inspector Barry Buzzetti.
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