Staten Island is often called the "forgotten borough," but if you're standing on the corner of Bay Street or navigating the hills of St. George, nothing feels forgotten. It’s loud. It’s busy. It’s where the NYPD 120th Precinct keeps watch over a landscape that looks nothing like the suburban stereotypes of the island’s South Shore. Honestly, when people think of Staten Island, they think of manicured lawns and SUVs. The 120th handles the reality check.
The command covers the North Shore. We’re talking about St. George, West Brighton, New Brighton, Port Richmond, and Stapleton. These neighborhoods are dense. They’re old. They hold the borough's civic heart—the courts, the ferry terminal, and the massive redevelopment projects that have been trying to turn the waterfront into a tourist destination for a decade. Policing here isn't just about patrols; it's about managing the intense friction of a borough in transition.
The Geography of the 120th Precinct
The station house itself sits at 78 Richmond Terrace. It’s a building that has seen some things. The precinct is bordered by the Kill Van Kull to the north and the Upper New York Bay to the east. It’s a gateway. Every day, thousands of people pour through the St. George Ferry Terminal, and the 120th is responsible for making sure that transition from boat to bus to street happens without a breakdown in order.
It’s a massive area to cover. You've got the transit hubs, but you also have the heights—literally. The topography of the North Shore is punishing. Narrow, winding streets that climb steep hills make response times a nightmare for officers who aren't used to the local layout. If you’re a rookie assigned to the NYPD 120th Precinct, you’re going to spend your first few months just trying to figure out how to get from the station to a call in Silver Lake without getting lost in a labyrinth of one-way streets and dead ends.
Crime stats in the 120th usually tell a different story than the rest of the island. While the 122nd and 123rd precincts deal with more residential property disputes or suburban retail theft, the 120th is where the "city" problems happen. Historically, this precinct has dealt with higher rates of violent crime and narcotics activity compared to its neighbors to the south. It’s a gritty, urban environment that requires a specific kind of beat cop.
Why This Command is Different
You’ve got to understand the social makeup here. The North Shore is the most diverse part of Staten Island. It’s a melting pot of West African, Mexican, and Sri Lankan communities alongside generational New Yorkers. This diversity is a strength, but for the NYPD 120th Precinct, it also means community policing isn't just a buzzword—it’s a survival tactic. If the officers don’t have a rapport with the local shop owners on Castleton Avenue or the organizers in Stapleton, they’re effectively flying blind.
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Communication matters.
The precinct has faced significant scrutiny over the years. This is the command that was at the center of the Eric Garner case in 2014, an event that fundamentally changed how the NYPD operates citywide, not just on Staten Island. The legacy of that moment still hangs over the relationship between the 120th and the residents of the North Shore. You can't talk about this precinct without acknowledging that tension. It’s a constant, delicate balancing act between maintaining public safety and rebuilding trust that was deeply fractured.
Lately, the focus has shifted toward "precision policing." This basically means they aren't just casting a wide net and hoping to catch criminals. They’re looking at specific individuals and specific blocks that drive the majority of the violence. It's a more surgical approach, intended to reduce the "occupying force" feel that many residents complained about in the past.
The Logistics of 78 Richmond Terrace
Inside the station, it’s a hive of activity. The 120th manages several specialized units that you won't necessarily find in a smaller, rural department. There’s the Detective Squad, which handles the heavy-duty investigations—robberies, assaults, and homicides. Then there’s the Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs). These are the guys who are supposed to be the "face" of the precinct. They have specific sectors, and their job is to know the "who’s who" of the neighborhood.
If you have a persistent noise complaint or a local drug house that’s ruining the block, the NCOs are your primary contact. They don't just respond to 911 calls; they attend community board meetings and give out their work cell phone numbers. It’s a shift toward accountability.
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Then you have the auxiliary officers and the Explorer program. The NYPD 120th Precinct relies heavily on these volunteers to help with crowd control during the borough's major events, like the Staten Island Half Marathon or the various festivals at Snug Harbor. It’s a way to get the community involved in the mechanics of safety, though critics often argue it’s not enough to bridge the deeper systemic divides.
Crime Trends and Public Safety
Let's talk numbers, but keep it real. Staten Island is generally the safest borough in New York City. That’s a fact. But the 120th often carries the burden of the borough's crime statistics. In recent years, like much of the city, there’s been a fluctuation in grand larceny auto—car thefts are a huge headache right now—and retail theft.
The North Shore’s commercial corridors, like the Empire Outlets and the shops along Forest Avenue, are prime targets. The precinct has had to ramp up foot patrols in these areas to reassure business owners. Honestly, it’s a bit of a cat-and-mouse game. As soon as the cops saturate one area, the activity moves three blocks over.
Public housing developments also play a massive role in the 120th’s operations. The Richmond Terrace Houses and the Stapleton Houses are major focal points for the precinct's PSA (Public Service Area) counterparts. Coordination between the precinct and NYCHA security is vital. It’s about making sure that the residents of these buildings feel safe enough to walk to the deli at night without looking over their shoulders.
What You Should Know if You Live Here
If you’re a resident or newcomer to the North Shore, interacting with the NYPD 120th Precinct usually happens in one of three ways.
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First, there’s the 120th Precinct Community Council. This is probably the most important tool for any local. They meet monthly (usually the third Wednesday of the month, but check their social media because things change). This is where you can stand up and tell the precinct commander exactly what’s bothering you. If the trash isn’t being picked up and it’s creating a hazard, or if there’s a specific corner where people are dealing drugs, this is where you air it out.
Second, the precinct is active on social media—specifically X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. They post updates on missing persons, arrests, and community events. It’s a good way to see the "human" side of the force, though obviously, it’s a curated view.
Third, there’s the reality of traffic enforcement. Staten Island is a car borough. The 120th is notoriously strict about parking and traffic around the ferry terminal and the courthouse. If you think you can "just hop out for a second" on Richmond Terrace, you’re going to get a ticket. The congestion is too high for them to be lenient.
Actionable Steps for Engaging with the 120th
Knowing how to navigate the system makes a difference. Don't just complain on Nextdoor; use the actual channels available to you.
- Find Your Sector: Go to the NYPD’s "Find Your Precinct" tool and look up your specific NCO. Save their email and number. Don't call them for emergencies (that's 911), but use them for "quality of life" issues that never seem to get solved.
- Attend the Council Meetings: Showing up in person carries more weight than an anonymous tip. When the command staff sees the same faces every month, those people get heard.
- Use the 311 App: For non-emergencies, the 311 app creates a paper trail. The 120th has to respond to these tickets, and you can track the resolution. It’s a way to hold the precinct accountable for the smaller things that add up to a neighborhood's feel.
- Request a Security Survey: Believe it or not, the NYPD will send an officer to your home or business to conduct a free security survey. They’ll tell you where your locks are weak or where you need better lighting. It’s a proactive service that almost nobody uses.
The NYPD 120th Precinct isn't just a police station; it’s an institution that reflects the complicated, evolving identity of Staten Island’s North Shore. It’s a place of high pressure, deep history, and constant friction. Whether you view them as a necessary shield or a force in need of more reform, their presence is the backbone of the borough's civic life. Understanding how they work, where they struggle, and how to talk to them is the first step in making the neighborhood actually work for everyone who lives there.