Some Washington Heights residents said they did not see their beat officers often enough.
By the time the uniformed beat officer arrived, I was sitting in a chair, feeling somewhat restored.
A captain and two other social beat officers are standing around the display, stunned into silence.
Could could you explain what a principal beat officer is?
"They used to come by all the time, watch me close up," said the owner of the corner store, remembering the beat officers.
It also meets regularly with local beat officers; there used to be six, now there are three.
The raid took 10 weeks to plan after complaints to local beat officers.
"If you look at our strategy for precincts, some had as many as 70 beat officers," he said.
These homeowners seem particularly interested in working with their beat officers, perhaps because they want to protect property values.
"They do have more latitude and discretion," he said of the beat officers.