Who's Fighting Crime in Bed-Stuy's Public Housing? She is.

Captain Olufunmilo “Lola” F. Obe, with the support of 118 officers, heads the Police Service Area 3 (PSA 3), the housing division of the New York City Police Department covering the neighborhoods of Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, Clinton Hill/Fort Greene and Brooklyn Heights—all a part of Brooklyn North.

The focus of PSA’s is to enhance the quality of life of residents of public housing through relationship building, program development and crime reduction.

Although Captain Obe has been a part of the NYPD for nearly 20 years, her tenure as the head of PSA 3 began six months ago, in September 2011.

Now, she says, her focus lies squarely on building an environment of confidence and support between the department, housing residents and residents outside of housing— a relationship that historically has been wrought with tension and distrust. But Obe is determined to change that.

“My message as a new commander is that we not only are concerned with housing residents, we want to reach out and touch our surrounding residents too,” said Obe. “Because there’s always a nexus between housing and the residents around us.”

Obe adds, the PSA's are only as effective as the community is supportive. So her challenge in the coming months and years is to gain the trust of the residents in her command in showing them that PSA 3's efforts are focused on increasing the safety of tenants, while also offering them a variety of programs, options that could help improve their daily lives.

Obe understands struggle. And she also knows what it's like to face an uncertain future when your financial options are limited.

Obe is originally from Nigeria. She moved to New York City after completing high school. She enrolled in college, but, like most college students, still was undecided about what she wanted to do professionally.

So she enrolled in the Police Cadet Corps program, which provides financial aid (a loan) for college, in exchange for two years serving as an intern in the NYPD while in college.

Upon graduating, if a cadet decides to become a police officer, NYPD will pay off the loan.

“It’s a program that’s near and dear to my heart, because I honestly would not be here, if I didn’t go through that program,” said Obe. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, and I didn’t have the money to give back after I graduated. So I became a cop. But it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”

As a new officer, Obe was assigned to the 17th pct. in Lower Manhattan.  She became a sergeant in 2000, and was then assigned to the 19th Pct. on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She was promoted to lieutenant in 2005, and then assigned to the 15th Pct in the Riverdale area of the Bronx.

In 2008, Obe was promoted to captain in 2008, was assigned back to 19th pct for a year before she was transferred to the 34th Pct in Washington Heights where she remained for three years. Then she got the call in September 2011 to manage PSA 3 in Brooklyn North covering the 79th, 81st, 84th, 88th and 90th Precincts.

“So here I am. I work very closely with Inspector Bartoszek on joint operations,” said Obe. Bartoszek is commanding officer of the 79th Precinct, which oversees seven public housing developments, one of the largest and most concentrated areas of NYCHA developments in the city, along with the 90th Pct, which has eight.

“So we work hand-in-hand with the precincts, and the focus this year is on the youth, and trying to involve them in activities that will help develop them and keep them out of trouble.”

The PSA's hold youth forums several times a year to try to attract residents ages 10-19 into their Explorers Program, as well as the cadet corps. Also, the PSA’s hold summer camps, and conduct drills.  Currently, there are 31 Explorers enrolled in PSA 3’s program.

In addition to the youth programs, PSA’s run a Police Auxiliary, a volunteer program for older adults, as well as a neighborhood watch programs within housing.

“It really helps us when the residents get involved, because they get to see and appreciate the work that goes into trying to keep the neighborhood safe,” said Obe. “And really, that’s what I love most about this job: It’s all hands on deck.”

For more information about PSA 3 and/or to get in touch with Captain Lola Obe, call (718) 386-4101.

*Note: On Tuesday, March 6, from 5:00 – 7:00, PSA 3 will hold a forum at the Armstrong Housing Developments, located in the community room at 435 Lexington Avenue. The forum is an opportunity for residents to voice their concerns (noise complaints, disputes with neighbors), learn about youth programs available, and also submit anonymous grievances.