One or two hookers are "stationed" at each corner of Broadway, from Elmendorf on down to Cornel St. every night.

Drug dealers are hit and miss. Usually they're just "runners" moving about on Broadway. They don't actually have drugs on them. They run to the dealer, pick up the order and return to meet the "customer."

Yes, it would be nice if the city could afford to put a patrolman on foor patrol as used to be the norm for Broadway and Uptown. KPD does not have the manpower to do that.

It would, IMHO, be very dangerous for the average citizen to confront or attempt to detain either drug dealers or hookers. Don't even think about trying that! Even trying to photgraph or video such activity could get an ordinary citizen hurt or killed. Keep reporting it to KPD but remember that the 5-6 cops on duty can't be everywhere. They're doing the best they can.

I suggest that Kingston does have the manpower. One does not need a cop on the beat 8 hours a day, every day. I assure you, a cop walking, 1/2 hour a day at different locations in MIdtown would seriously disrupt that kind of behavior. A cop could certainly engage such a person in conversation, see that person, and moreover win the trust and affection of all the good people in the neighborhood. Don't think for a minute that the police can't get out of their cars and walk a few blocks.
And they are radio connected at all times anyway.
And it's really good, just posting that the hookers and dealers are there, I'll surely look for them. No, I won't confront them, but I might report them, 911 call.

I don't know if this is common knowledge, but part of the problem with detaining drug dealers and prostitutes is that the police have to witness the actual act of selling/soliciting. KPD is well aware of who most of the hookers in Kingston are, but if a prostitute is walking the block, there really isn't anything they can do besides tell her to move along.
I think you're right, citizen K, that being aware of what is going on and refusing to accept this type of activity in our neighborhoods is key. It seems that everyone knows what goes on along Broadway, but it has been shrugged off and accepted. I don't really know what the solution is, but this is definitely a start.

See kingstoncorridor.ning.com
There is a discussion up there about the kingstoncorridor, it's purpose and progress and comments would be welcome about the activities present and future.
Not to detract from the discussion going on right here, and I would hate to see it lost.
And having the cops say "move it along" is a great place to start. You know for certain that that won't happen many times before the hooker, the dealer, won't want to be there, and will surely risk getting nailed.
Dunno. My hot button: get a cop walking in midtown at least sometimes. As it is: absolutely never ever happens.
you can reach me at the address below if you want/need. your email address and identity will remain private as you may wish,

No, KPD cannot afford to put a patrolman walking for "1/2 hour" - There's typically only 5-6 cops working. To put a man walking would tie up a unit making it unavailable to handle calls, unless you want to see a cop running back to his car to handle a call. Walking for 1/2 hour also would not "win the trust and affection of all the good people." Park & Walk has been tried in other cities and is a dismal failure.

Yes, a cop has to see the illegal activity before an arrest can be made. As far as moving them along, that's a violation of civil rights. There's no longer a loitering law unless it can be proven that the perp is loitering for an illegal purpose.

A drug dealer or hooker loitering is not an emegency/life threatening situation. Calling 911 for this would be a misuse of the 911 system. Program the KPD phone number into your phone (331-1671). Reports to this number should include complete and accurate head-to-toe description of the individual as well as an accurate location and what they were observed doing. If enough accurate and feasible reports are received, the Detective Division might find it necessary to set up to watch and make arrests. You might want to make the reports to the Alderman as well.

What KPD can and should do is return to the "trickle up" enforcement started when Jim Riggins was chief and abandoned by Jerry Keller's administration. Under that plan KPD issues tickets and/or makes arrests for such offenses as littering, obstructing traffic (walking in the street), noise, and other "quality of life" offenses. That is an action which, over a sustained period, has been shown to work well.

take this offline?
I posted my email address...

Bring this up at the neighborhood watch
http://www.kingston-ny-neighborhood-watch.com/
meeting 4/13 at the kingston library...
Keller does not seem to be receptive to quality of life stuff, and doesn't have a good track record on that at all, from what I've heard from other people.
Neighborhood watch could speak to that.

Hi all,

Some really great interaction here! Good stuff!

One of the things you can do is take pics of the person or video for that matter. Collect as much info as you can like what times per day this person is there ect..

Here is a link for a form to help you with said task..

http://www.teamdarcyinc.com/forms/complaint.doc

I have sent out a mass email today in hopes that more city officials and law enforcement will use this tool to aid them.

One thing they could do is a simple reply staing that they are aware ofthis issue. A better thing would be to say that they see it and it will be "fixed" Maybe with info on the steps being taken or not tken in respect to these types of criminal activity.

Good luck

Mike

As a police agency we do what we can to discourage prostitution. Unfortunately the state legislature does not take this crime as seriously as they do DWI where you will be charged with a felony after a second offense in ten years. Some of these prostitutes have been arrested numerous times but are still on the street. Yes, we do have to perform an undercover operation and have them agree or offer to perform a sex act for money in order to make an arrest. The conversation should be recorded., Very manpower intensive for a minor misdemeanor arrest.
We will do what we can with complaints.

Hypothetically, if you saw a transaction in process from a known process, if you observed her going up to a client, could you step in and inquire about the transaction? If I were a citizen and I were approached, could I not volunteer the information? If you observed actual servicing, could you intervene.
Indeed, just this much: if you observed just as much as these citizens observed, could you intervene. Would it inform you enough that you could take action.
While the crime is not a "serious" crime, it is a serious quality of life crime. It significantly degrades an area, it keeps good people off the street, and abandons the street to those and others whose presence only makes it worse.
We see it. It is upsetting and it hurts the city. Are we powerless to stop it or at least move it from the kingston corridor/midtown?
Your reply might be a definitive clarification.

I'll leave this open for now. Please keep in mind, not that anyone has been disrespectful, but please do be respectful.

Thanks all

Mike

ok I'm going to go ahead and close this.

Hopefully we will soon see a decrease of this problem.

Mike