Lincoln Square conveys a feeling of harmony more often associated with a small town than an urban neighborhood. For that sense of wellbeing, much of the credit goes to the friendly, familiar faces of the BID’s Public Safety Officers who walk their assigned beats each day, offering aid and information to Lincoln Square’s residents, workers, students and visitors. Our Public Safety team performs a variety of duties to ensure the continued safety and high quality of life in Lincoln Square.
Easily identifiable in their BID-branded uniforms, the helpful officers supplement the work of the New York Police Department (NYPD). Currently contracted from Arrow Security, the well- trained Public Safety patrol is a constant presence in Lincoln Square, working in shifts seven days a week.
Deterrents to crime, the Public Safety Officers spot problems and address them before they can escalate. The teamwork between the NYPD and the Public Safety team has paid off. Lincoln Square has never been safer. Often the first at the scene of an emergency, the Public Safety officers quickly analyze the situation and determine whether to summon the NYPD, the Fire Department or ambulance services.
Performing double duty as Lincoln Square’s ambassadors to the public, providing visitors with neighborhood maps and directions when assistance is needed.
At the beginning of each eight-hour beat, Public Safety officers check in at the BID’s operational field location, a work space generously provided by Ogden CAP Properties. The Public Safety Officers use Lighthouse, an electronic guard touring system, requiring officers to check in at 30 locations. To assure contact between the officers and with the BID office, each officer carries a two- way radio.
Our Public Safety Officers are uniquely equipped to address quality-of-life issues, regularly monitoring street vendors and ticket sellers, reporting illegal parking, and ensuring that street furniture remains in good condition. Through their vigilant patrols, they act as the district’s communal eyes and ears, promptly identifying and addressing concerns such as potholes, uncollected trash, illegal vending, and malfunctioning streetlight electrical boxes. They do not hesitate to file reports via New York City’s 311 hotline and, when necessary, call 911 to ensure the district remains safe and well-maintained.
The BID is a member of the Executive Advisory Subcommittee of the NYPD Shield, the Manhattan DA’s Small Business Alliance, and sits on the Mayor’s Retail Task Force, which identifies program-oriented solutions and enhanced enforcement efforts to combat retail theft.