The Park Is Mine

This blog isn't my diary, so don't expect I'm going to fill it with important personal things.

Maybe good news, but if I have some kind of major tragic event, it's not going to be on the damn blog so the Internet can comfort me.

Just a disclaimer before I mention something bad.

So.

 

On the afternoon of the 4th of July, my Dad was walking home with some shish kebab skewers for the grill.  He was on the block where my family lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, a block from Prospect Park.  Two teenage guys tackled him from behind, then stood over him and demanded his cash (but not his wallet).

Dad, who is quite sensible, gave the SHPOSes his cash-- which was a significant amount of money-- and the two ran off (in opposite directions, I think).

Two people were nearby, and quickly approached my Dad to find out what had happened.

A police car was driving up the street at the same time, and chased after one of the muggers-- and the NYPD (78th precinct, maybe?)caught the guy in no time a few blocks away.

The other guy ran the opposite direction--into the park--with the cash.  Of course, on the 4th of July, the park is full of families having barbecues.

I really, really hope these guys didn't step away from a family barbecue to knock over my Dad.

Some of New York's Finest went into the park and asked if anyone had seen a teenager wearing whatever mugger #2 was wearing (a white or black do-rag, I think, and some other distinctive clothing) running through.  People pointed the guy out, and, one-two, the whole dipsh*t crew's locked up.  Mugger #2 (or maybe both muggers?) confessed immediately, and said he'd thrown the cash into the bushes when he ran.

 

I was in Manhattan with Tenderfoot at some friends' apartment when Dad called me after leaving the precinct house.  He was quite calm.

 

I'm still upset.  For the past month or two, teenage guys have been mugging people in Prospect Park.

My parents live half a block from the park.

These guys could have seriously hurt my Dad (he seems to have no serious injuries).  They could have attacked my Mom or my sisters.

NYPD, don't make me pull some "The Park is Mine" / "First Blood" action.  Okay, don't make me fantasize about it.

Cruising RMPs along the main road through the Park won't catch muggers.  Don't let the park-- which is one of the nicest spots in Brooklyn-- turn into some Pirates' Cove.

Do a damn sting.  Call in "21 Jump Street," I don't care.

 

Vigilantes like The Whaler and BROKK!!! are funny ideas.  My Dad buying a gun is not.