A late-night stop in Ozone Park ended with a loaded gun off the street and multiple people in custody, according to the NYPD's 106th Precinct. The precinct hailed the recovery as a public-safety win but did not release the names of those arrested, what they were charged with, or whether anyone was injured.
Last night, the Queens South Boro Neighborhood Safety Team did remove an illegally possessed loaded firearm from the streets and apprehended the perpetrators, keeping the community safe. pic.twitter.com/oIo7LxDrae
— NYPD 106th Precinct (@NYPD106Pct) April 12, 2026
NYPD Account Of The Stop
In a short post on X, the 106th Precinct said its Queens South Boro Neighborhood Safety Team officers “removed an illegally possessed loaded firearm” and “apprehended the perpetrators,” according to NYPD 106th Precinct. The April 12 post did not explain why officers made the stop, how many people were arrested, or what specific charges they might face. The brief media clip attached to the post also did not identify any suspects.
Where It Happened
The 106th Precinct covers Ozone Park and several neighboring areas, and its stationhouse is located within the same general territory. According to the precinct's official page, 106th Precinct officers handle both routine patrol and more targeted enforcement throughout the corridor. The command's social media feeds regularly spotlight arrests and weapon recoveries as part of its updates to local residents.
What Neighborhood Safety Teams Do
Neighborhood Safety Teams were formed to focus on gun suppression and other high‑risk enforcement assignments in selected precincts. While the NYPD points to firearm recoveries as a key measure of success, reporting by City & State has found that many NST arrests involve lower‑level offenses. That mix of serious gun cases and more minor charges continues to complicate public debate over how aggressively these teams should operate.
Oversight And Civil‑Rights Concerns
Civil‑rights advocates and independent monitors have warned that Neighborhood Safety Teams' tactics can result in disproportionate stops and complaints in the communities they patrol. The Legal Defense Fund has cited audits that flagged elevated rates of questionable stops and called for tighter supervision of the units, even as police credit them with recovering illegal guns. The ongoing tug‑of‑war between public‑safety arguments and civil‑liberties concerns continues to frame how New Yorkers view these teams.
Local Context
Recent neighborhood coverage has highlighted a run of robberies and other quality‑of‑life incidents inside the 106th Precinct, prompting additional patrols in some spots. One of the more high‑profile cases was an armed robbery near Liberty Avenue, cited as the kind of incident officers hope to deter with proactive enforcement. Residents who spoke with reporters have said they are glad to see illegal guns taken off the street but also want clearer information about why stops are made and what happens between an arrest and any eventual charges.
How To Report Tips
Anyone with information about this gun recovery or the related arrests can contact the 106th Precinct directly or leave an anonymous tip with NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1‑800‑577‑TIPS. As NYC.gov notes, tips can also be submitted through the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers mobile app or via the department’s online portal for investigators to review.
