The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has signed onto a six‑hour daily experiment in Brooklyn’s Brownsville, Brooklyn neighborhood, designating a two‑block stretch on Mother Gaston Boulevard as a “police‑free zone” for low‑level incidents. Community group volunteers will handle 911 calls during the midday period while uniformed officers stand outside the perimeter.
Under the program, uniform officers will still be available for serious crimes such as shootings or stabbings, and a plain‑clothes NYPD sergeant will monitor operations. The initiative is part of a broader city‑funded effort launched in 2020 under the administration of former Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Supporters say the program empowers local residents and aims to reduce friction between law‑enforcement and the community. A program director at the community group Brownsville in Violence Out said the zone gives them “our room to control the block.” However, critics warn the initiative could undermine public safety. A police source described the program as “insane,” pointing to significant crime spikes in the 73rd Precinct — including a 23 % rise in robberies and 26 % uptick in felony assaults.
Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa called the program “a reckless experiment that invites chaos and puts residents and businesses at risk.” Meanwhile, Democratic socialist frontrunner Zohran Mamdani has praised the initiative.
