DA, 114th CO At Astoria Civic Assn. Focus On Crime
BYTHOMAS COGAN

DA Brown said he believes the decline in crime that the city has experienced in the past decade or more began about the time he took office, though he gave chief credit to former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. and former Mayor David Dinkins.

Queens County District Attorney Richard Brown entered to applause at the February meeting of the Astoria Civic Association, where he was the evening’s guest speaker. Before he was formally introduced, however, City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr., head of the council Public Safety Committee, said a few words about matters that were bound to engage Brown once he was asked to speak–matters that included graffiti. He introduced 114th Precinct Commander Deputy Inspector Brian McCarthy, and then Brown.

The District Attorney began by informing his audience of something many of his hearers might have realized anyway, that on June 1 he will have been in office 15 years. He said he believes the decline in crime that the city has experienced in the past decade or more began about the time he took office, though he gave chief credit to former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. and former Mayor David Dinkins, who put the Safe City, Safe Streets campaign into effect at that time. The program, he said, “In my opinion, did most to cause the crime decline.” He did add, “I like to believe prosecutors deserve a share of credit.” Crime had a long way to fall in 1991, which he described as a time in Queens of crack vials in the streets and stolen cars. He quoted some striking statistics: 361 homicides in Queens in 1991, 94 in 2005; 52,000 stolen cars then, 5,400 now. (He commented that if the drop in car theft has brought not the slightest decline in automobile insurance rates, the reason lies in the epidemic level of insurance fraud that currently obtains.) The district attorney’s office, located in the big black building at 80-02 Kew Gardens Rd., has a special Police Department squad assigned to it. Brown is intent on staying in touch with all levels and aspects of law enforcement. There is a staff of retired police detectives also working with him, plus a contingent from the New York State Police. The Queens DA’s office leads the nation in the number of court-authorized wiretaps, Brown told the ACAaudience. Also, the office is open around the clock. Brown had some advice for those, particularly the elderly, who are feeling endangered, particularly at night, when such anxieties prevent sleep: call his office, and get a live detective on the other end. Also, the office will call him at home if there is some particular police-related matter going on that might require his attention. As a result, Brown is often out checking early morning crime scenes. He said at the meeting that the most recent such visit had occurred a few days earlier.

During the question period, there was an immediate return to the graffiti problem. As one questioner, Community Board 1 District Manager George Delis said, a train ride on the Astoria line reveals the sad sight of one paint-sprayed building after another. He asked about Kiko, the graffiti vandal active in Astoria, who has actually been brought to book. Brown said Kiko, whose real name is Oliver Siandre, has been indicted for criminal mischief, and the prosecution can specify 15 incidents of graffiti vandalism for which he is liable. He was offered a plea bargain jail term of one year and, Brown said, he “literally thumbed his nose at it.” The prosecution is seeking a felony conviction, which would, of course, make Siandre a felon; at present, he has no record. Brown implied that there’s hope for residents of Astoria and elsewhere, and that the graffiti situation is improving. Fifteen years ago, he said, it seemed every object that could be defaced with graffiti was, but the fight against the vandalism has shown gains.

Another person asked about identity theft. Brown said that the best way anyone can be on guard against identity theft is to stay on top of one’s accounts, and to beware any attempts by strangers to get identification information. He cited Internet schemes promising some sort of reward if only Social Security or other such numbers were surrendered; people actually fall for such tricks. He warned of the danger in the more common efforts of banks and credit card companies and others to get business through such means as the convenience checks often mailed to customers. If you have no use for them, shred them, he said.

Asked about child abuse, Brown mentioned an op-ed article he wrote for the New York Post that stressed the need for stronger legislation. He grew visibly annoyed when repeating the fact that in the state of New York, animal abuse is a felony while child abuse is a misdemeanor. A better law and better funding for abuse investigation units are needed, he said.