And last week, the police halted the special patrol. The reason: ''Manpower,'' says Capt. Carl J. Greco, of the 62d Precinct. ''We have other needs elsewhere,'' he says. ''We just hope that our leaving won't precipitate another rash.'' Some residents of the building remain anxious, however. ''I still look up at the windows when I walk by,'' says one, Ida Schulberg. ''I still wonder if they're biding their time.''

That's horrifying.