NYPD in “Virtual Work Stoppage” Over Beef With De Blasio
Now is a pretty good time to commit a minor crime, if you’re going to. (Just kidding! We’re all super law-abiding here, right fellas? Ha! Haha!) The NYPD is reportedly in a near work stoppage in protest of the recent rift with Mayor De Blasio, which began with the Mayor’s speech in solidarity with the protestors and was exacerbated by the murder of two police officers. Arrests have dropped 66 percent in the week compared to the same period last year, part of the New York Post‘s report that police officers have ceased responding to low-level crimes like public urination, public drinking, and parking violations. Just in time for New Year’s Eve!
After the deaths of Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, a memo purportedly from the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association told officer to only take action in the form of arrest when “absolutely necessary.” (The PBA denied issuing such a memo.) But seems like cops are taking a similar message to heart. Per the Post, police officers have been turning a blind eye to minor crimes. Parking violations are down 92 percent, and even drug arrests are down 84 percent.
Police sources say that the slowdown is about police safety rather than protesting De Blasio (though the officers attending Ramos’ funeral made it very clear how they stand on the mayor.).
“The call last week from the PBA is what started it, but this has been simmering for a long time,” one source told the Post. “This is not a slowdown for slowdown’s sake. Cops are concerned, after the reaction from City Hall on the Garner case, about de Blasio not backing them.”
