He’s seen the good and bad in Flatbush, and now a mainstay of the 70th Police Precinct is handing in his badge.
Police officer Shawn Lipstein announced his retirement after 20 years at the recent 70th Precinct Community Council meeting.
“This has been a 20-year chapter in the book of my life,” said Lipstein. “There’s an old German proverb that says ‘stop eating when you most enjoy it,’ so when you think about that philosophy, I’m having the best time of my life, and leaving under my own terms while I’m having my best time.”
Lipstein grew up in Brooklyn, attending P.S. 247 on 21st Avenue between 70th and 71st Streets, Seth Low Junior High School at 99 Avenue P and graduated from Madison High School before joining the NYPD.
According to Deputy Inspector Ralph Monteforte, Lipstein began his career on patrol in the 70th Precinct, before going to the Brooklyn South Task Force for a short period of time and then back on Patrol in the 70th Precinct.
Lipstein was then assigned to crime analysis before taking over as the auxiliary police coordinator and finally community affairs.
Over the years at the 70th Precinct, Lipstein has seen crime decrease enormously. He was also at the precinct in 1997 when a handful of cops were convicted of police brutality for the beating and sodomy of Abner Louima, a Hatian-American immigrant.
Lipstein said of the incident, which drew national attention, that a few bad apples doesn’t spoil the whole bunch.
Lipstein said he will miss the camaraderie of all the cops in the precinct, but looks forward to spending more time at home with his wife and kids.
He also plans on spending more time with his favorite hobby of working with wood.
“I’m working on a mantle as we speak,” Lipstein said. “There’s nothing like watching a piece of wood come to life.”
