Programs and Services
Public Safety
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.
Easily identifiable in crisp white and navy uniforms highlighted with the BID’s signature red, the helpful officers supplement the work of the New York Police Department (NYPD). Contracted from Allied Universal, the well-trained Public Safety patrol is a constant presence in Lincoln Square, working in shifts covering 12 hours of every day.
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, the unarmed officers carry free copies of the Official Map & Guide to Lincoln Square as well as Where to Eat in Lincoln Square, our comprehensive restaurant and bar directory.
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 BID contracts for the use of GuardTek, 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 guard carries a two-way radio.
To identify safety concerns and take preventative action, the BID works with the Mayor’s Office and many City agencies. Public Safety Supervisors are constantly made aware of new developments, attending training programs like the NYPD’s Active Shooter Training and At the Ready New York - presented by the City’s Office of Emergency Management, the program emphasizes the need to be ready with plans for a wide variety of emergencies and disasters.
The BID also worked with the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the NYPD to improve pedestrian crossings throughout Lincoln Square. Several crossings were made safer for pedestrians, as DOT implemented changes to the 65th Street Bowtie area – widening Broadway Mall barriers, correcting ponding, and installing new crosswalks. Additionally, the BID identified faded crosswalks in the district which allowed DOT to re-stripe them in early 2020.
The Public Safety Officers use their communal eyes and ears to spot quality of life problems. Patrol members do not hesitate to dial 311--New York City’s government and information services hotline -- and file reports on such concerns as potholes, uncollected trash, illegal vending and malfunctioning street light electrical boxes. If need be, our Officers call 911.