The
Red Hook StarªRevue SOUTH BROOKLYN’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
LATE AUGUST, 2014
FREE
LENZ IN FOCUS: Justin leads the 76th by Harrison Neuhaus
“I
’m a little out there,” says the Captain. “I’ll just walk up and start talking to people. A lot of times when I’m dressed like this,” pointing to his slacks and dress shirt, “people don’t seem to recognize me... they’ll say hello but I don’t think they put two and two together.”
police assignments would take him from the Upper West Side of Manhattan to East New York, as well as a return to the military with two deployments to Iraq, before finally landing him at the 76th. His last job before becoming Captain was working Narcotics in East New York, where he spent three and a half years between 2010 and 2013.
Living in Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, or Red Hook, chances are you’ve encountered police officers from the local 76th precinct. But you may have also met the man in charge without even realizing it.
This past September he was surprised with the news that he would be transferred to take command of his own precinct. Though this is his first time policing in Brooklyn, he raves that the neighborhood is “beautiful and pleasant to work in.”
Those who have been approached by the fit grey-haired man in plainclothes may not have given it much thought, thinking he’s just another friendly neighbor. But in and out of the uniform, he’s the man responsible for the safety of the area. Though he’s only been Captain of the 76th for about 10 months, Justin Lenz is already making a difference. Crime is significantly down, while there has been an increase in arrest activity. However, the past year has also shown a reduction in civilian complaints against officers; all types of complaints were down last quarter by 67%. “It sends me a message that our cops are acting in a professional way… it’s a fragile line, but somewhere we’re getting it right.”
Military background Lenz grew up in Forest Hills, Queens, and began his career in public service by enlisting in the military. In 1983, he recalls, just after the US invasion of Grenada, Lenz became a paratrooper for the army. Though he was stationed in Italy for a while, a “great assignment” that didn’t involve much except training, he began considering police work after returning. “In 1987 I was home on leave,” he recounts. His friends had joined the police department and he remembers, “they were all telling these great cop stories. I figured I could do that, and I decided to leave the army to become a cop.” Working first as a correctional officer on Riker’s Island for 13 months, Lenz joined the NYPD in October 1990. His
Today Lenz still remains in the physical shape one would expect of a military man. His sharp eyes often fix in an intense gaze past his long nose, almost like a hawk, but his demeanor is more neighborly than intimidating. He speaks with a commanding, but unmistakably amiable voice, and has a personality fitting of the Brooklyn cop archetype.
A great community to work in Though he commutes from Bellmore in Nassau County each day, the Captain seems glad to be working in this community. Unlike his home in Long Island, he finds the neighborhood very close, both in terms of the community bonds and the physical living space. For his job, this has a clear advantage – neighbors know each other well, and everything is relatively close by. In any case, he claims the mark of a good job is “when you can walk out of the place you work and go get a coffee or something to eat.” As an athlete, he says it’s also a great neighborhood to run in. He often does races in Long Island, including the Ocean-to-Sound relay, and says that he goes to Arizona every other year for the Phoenix half-marathon. Having recently run the Long Island half, Lenz is training now for the New York Marathon in November – his first full 26.2 mile race since 2006. As the Commanding Officer, Lenz has gotten to know the neighborhood fairly well, and for all its unique qualities he finds it somehow familiar. “There’s a lot of similarities between the Upper West
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
Captain Justin Lenz of the 76th Police Precinct (photo by George Fiala)
Side and Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and Red Hook,” he explains. “When you really look at it in terms of commercial, residential, housing developments – one really mirrors the other.” He’s introduced his family to his workplace, too. Lenz says his wife of 24 years and his two college-aged children have
always encouraged him in his life and career. “You couldn’t ask for a more supportive family,” he beams, and they’ve visited the neighborhood with him on several occasions. He’s brought his family to Brooklyn for fireworks twice this year, under very different circum(continued on page 6)
MUSIC FESTIVAL TO ROCK RED HOOK CONTAINERPORT by George Fiala
A somewhat shocking press release reached our inbox last month: NEW YORK, NY (July 28, 2014) – Escape Music Festival, a highly anticipated live electronic and indie rock music festival, is proud to announce its first interactive concert experience October 11 – 12 at Pier 9 in Brooklyn, N.Y. The festival plans to showcase 30 performances and attract a crowd of more than 16,000 people over the course of two days. Featured artists include Placebo and Yeasayer, along with Ra Ra Riot, Bakermat, ASTR, Tesla Boy, Basecamp and Follow Me, as well as DJ sets by The Crystal Method, Neon Indian and STRFKR. Last July 4th, the containerport was opened up for Phoenix Beverage and Local 1814 members to enjoy the fireworks. In 2012 there was a big Katy Perry concert during Fleet Week for the military and their families. Aside for those few instances, the containerport, bound (continued on page 4)