Two Brooklyn precincts that have heavily populated Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods are getting new Commanding Officers, police sources have confirmed to YWN.

71 PRECINCT:

The 71 Precinct which covers Crown Heights will be getting a new Commanding Officer.

Assigned to lead that Precinct is Captain Norman Grandstaff. He is replacing Inspector George Fitzgibbon.

Rabbi Chanina Sperlin, vice president of the Crown Heights Jewish Community Council said he was looking forward to working with Captain Grandstaff. He told YWN “I have only heard great things about him from the Brooklyn South Chief to the highest Brass in NYPD Headquarters in Manhattan. The community looks forward to working together with Captain Gardner.

I am also sad to see  Inspector Fitzgibbon leave, as he has been a great partner in working with the community. I am certain that his career will continue to go in the right direction, as he always displays strong leadership as well as compassion. I wish him the very best in his career forward.

90 PRECINCT:

The 90 Precinct which covers the Williamsburg Jewish community will be getting NYPD Capt. William Gardner as their new commander.

Gardner has been working at the Strategic Response Group in Brooklyn. Gardner will be replacing Inspector Mark DiPaolo who has been at the 90 Precinct for over three years.

Rabbi Abe Friedman, a leading community activist in the community told YWN the following in a brief phone interview. “On behalf of the community I want to thank Inspector DiPaolo for the incredible working relationship between the community and the NYPD over the past three years, and wish him only the best in his career. He will be missed by everyone in the 90 Precinct. The community and I look forward to a great working relationship with Captain Gardner. I am confident that the NYPD made a wonderful choice by assigning Captain Gardner to the 90 Precinct.

(Charles Gross – YWN)