New Haven Independent

Greer was the organizer last year of the EPDP, which attracted national publicity (partly because Orthodox Jews convened it) by forming an armed citizens patrol in response to the decline of community policing. The group joined forces with the Guardian Angels. In response, the city sent in more patrol cops and crime went down in the Edgewood neighborhood. When the police chief announced his retirement, the group put down its arms.

But now the neighborhood is waiting on a promise to have two bike cops patrol roughly between 4 p.m. and midnight five days a week south of Whalley Avenue. The promise was made weeks ago, but hasn’t materialized, Greer complained. Meanwhile, the city had 12 shootings in the past week, including two in the neighborhood which Greer said he himself heard.

Neighbors are now asking the group to take up arms again, Greer claimed.

“We are not going to rearm yet,” he said. “But we will not tolerate the same nonsense as last year [when a rash of shootings plagued the area].

“Right now we’re working with the police to establish a better summer than last year. We want to give this a chance. [But] no option is off the table.”

Neighbors have a meeting planned with the district’s new top cop, Lt. Kevin Costin, on Friday.

Costin said he’s in tune with the EPDP. He said he’s working to establish the nightly two-cop bike patrol. The problem is manpower. The department is in the process of boosting its ranks to try to get more cops out of cars and onto the street on foot and on bikes. The lack of bike and walking beat cops has caused discontent in the Upper State Street area too.

“We’re trying to get that going. That’s what I want. I don’t have a body right now,” Costin said.

Greer praised Costin for “putting an end” to officers watching TV on the job since taking over the district earlier this year. But he said the neighborhood plans to hold him accountable for delivering on the promised bike patrols.

The EPDP contacted city Chief Administrative Officer Rob Smuts Thursday to communicate its frustrations.

Smuts said he’s happy to follow up with the police department (which he oversees) to check on the status of the request for Edgewood bike patrols.

“We’re willing to work with them. We understand that everyone wants cops to be visible in the neighborhoods,” Smuts said.