March 4, 2016105th Precinct Satellite expanding to provide 24-hour coverage, adding 18 officers and two sergeantsNEW YORK––The police officers working in the 105th Precinct Satellite expansion are serving the residents of Rosedale around the clock, thanks to Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner Bratton and Council Member Donovan Richards who announced the new 24/7 schedule and expanded staffing today. The Precinct is being staffed with an additional 18 officers and two sergeants. The expanded hours and resources began on February 23, 2016.“New York City is the safest big city in America thanks to the tireless efforts of our police men and women – and today we’re proud to announce additional coverage for even more of our neighborhoods. The residents on Laurelton, Rosedale and Springfield Gardens will now have a Precinct Satellite open full time to continue keeping their neighborhoods safe. I want to thank the NYPD and Council Member Richards for helping make this expansion possible,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.“The expanded coverage at the 105th Precinct Satellite site will create a full-time police substation in the southern area of the command,” said Police Commissioner William J. Bratton. “By providing a 24-hour presence, the community will enjoy the benefits of more locally available police resources.”“Our pleas for help have finally been answered as our communities and NYPD officers are finally getting the resources we have been calling for, year after year,” said Council Member Donovan Richards. “Thankfully, City Hall is listening and the voices of District 31 are being heard. These additional officers will be welcomed with open arms, and now the doors of this precinct won’t be closed during the hours when most crimes are committed. I’d like to thank Mayor de Blasio and the NYPD for working together to ensure that officers in Southeast Queens have all the tools needed to protect and serve to the best of their ability.”The 105th Precinct encompasses 12.7 square miles with 354 miles of roadways, including seven major highways, making it geographically the fourth largest Precinct in the City. In an effort to support this large area, NYPD opened a part-time Precinct Satellite to serve the area in 2007. The 105th Precinct Satellite operated between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 11:00 P.M., and will now convert to 24-hour operations. The new officers and sergeants are being moved from a previous assignment.“Although we did not get the additional Police Precinct that we have been asking for, expanding the Satellite is a step in the right direction. The Mayor and Police Commissioner deserve praise for addressing our community""s needs. The current 105th Precinct covers an area half the size of Manhattan, and the people of Rosedale and Laurelton can rest easier thanks to this expansion,” said State Senator James Sanders Jr.“I would like to commend Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner Bratton and Council Member Richards for expanding the 105th Precinct Satellite to full-time service for our community,” said State Senator Leroy Comrie. “The safety of our residents is of paramount importance, and with the large geographic base the 105th covers, this enhancement is critical to allowing for faster response times by our officers.”“This is a major victory for the residents of the 29th Assembly District,” said Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman. “The 105th Precinct is one of the largest commands in the city, and now our officers have the resources they need to keep our community safe around the clock. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio, Police Commissioner Bratton and Council Member Richards for working to make our community safer.”“I would like to thank the Mayor, the Police Commissioner and my colleague, Council Member Richards, for adding resources at the 105th Precinct Satellite. The 105th Precinct covers a large portion of my district, as well as those of Council Members Miller and Richards. The Precinct’s area extends from Queens Village to JFK Airport, an area that is too large for just one Precinct. We are pleased that the Precinct has received these much needed resources, and I have submitted a resolution at the Council calling on the Police Commissioner to create a new precinct by dividing the 105th Police Precinct into two separate precincts,” said Council Member Barry Grodenchik.“I congratulate Commissioner Bratton and Council Member Donovan Richards on the announcement of a new satellite in the 105th Precinct. Thanks to this Precinct Satellite, residents can expect safer streets and an even greater opportunity to build a positive, mutually beneficial relationship with the officers who protect them. As the Chair of the Committee on Public Safety, I’m proud to see this collaboration with stakeholders result in greater public safety services for the residents of Southeast Queens. I thank Mayor de Blasio for recognizing the need in the 31st Council District and commend my colleague Council Member Richards for his commitment to the safety of his community,” said Council Member Vanessa Gibson