New NYPD 116th Precinct Station House Opens in Southeast Queens to Enhance Public Safety and Community Relations

Officials in New York City unveiled the new 116th Precinct Station House in Southeast Queens, marking a significant development in the city's public safety infrastructure. Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley were present to inaugurate the new facility, which promises to enhance police response times and community relations in the neighborhoods of Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Brookville, and Laurelton. According to a release from the Mayor's Office, the precinct, which comes with a price tag of nearly $105 million, is the first entirely new NYPD command to be established in over 10 years.

"Every New Yorker should know that they can send their kids to school or shop in their local store and come home safely to their family and their community," Mayor Adams said in the statement. “That is why we have dedicated ourselves to making sure that every New Yorker is safe — and feels safe too. The people of Rosedale, Springfield Gardens, Brookville, and Laurelton are getting the station house they need and deserve, and this new station will deepen the bonds between the NYPD and the community. We will continue to do whatever it takes to keep our communities safe, and ensure New York remains the safest big city in America.” Commissioner Tisch highlighted the expected benefits such as smaller coverage areas for the neighboring precincts, and quicker response times. She emphasized the station's role in fostering trust and strengthening relationships between the officers and the community they serve, as reported by the Mayor's Office.

As per the Mayor’s Office news release, the 45,000-square-foot station house features modern conveniences, such as a community meeting space, and boasts environmentally-friendly credentials with its LEED Gold certification. Out front, the precinct welcomes the public with a landscaped plaza, while inside, it includes essentials for police work and additional amenities designed to support officers' well-being. The 116th Precinct's opening is part of a broader effort by city officials to create public spaces that are sustainable, adaptable, and supportive of the community. This project also aims to exemplify the high standards of the city’s vision, as shared by Dattner Architects through the DDC's Design and Construction Excellence program.

The decision to establish the new precinct borders was based on an internal NYPD analysis considering factors such as geography, calls for service, and crime statistics. NYPD Captain Jean Beauvoir, formerly of the 105th Precinct, has been appointed to lead the new command. "The opening of the 116th NYPD precinct in Southeast Queens is a critical step toward improving public safety and enhancing community relations," U.S. Representative Gregory W. Meeks shared with the Mayor’s Office, acknowledging years of advocacy for the project. Echoing the sentiment, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. paid tribute to the community's multi-decade effort, stating, “For more than four decades, Southeast Queens residents have been pushing for faster emergency response times and stronger relationships with the officers who have sworn to serve them. For more than four decades, they have been denied those basic elements of public safety — until today.”

Amidst praise from local leaders for the project's potential impact, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz expressed her excitement for the precinct, which she believes will bring improved response times and a more proactive police presence close to the neighborhoods it aims to protect. New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers also acknowledged the realization of the community's long-standing goal and the precinct's expected benefits to public safety and community-policing relations in the area. This development, as New York State Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar notes, is not only a testament to local advocacy but also a showcase of a swift municipal response to the community's needs, aiming to ensure the continuance of New York's status as a model for urban safety.