NYPD Puts Millions of New Yorkers at Risk with Work Stoppage
The New York Police Department, already under intense scrutiny for politicizing a funeral for one of their fallen comrades, seems as though it has chosen not to enforce the laws of New York City, putting millions at risk.
The New York Post reports that after leading police unions issued a call to their members not to do their jobs and cease enforcing the laws of New York City, arrests have dropped 66% compared to the same time last year.
The Post notes that summonses for traffic crimes and other offenses have dropped 94%. For the week starting Dec. 22, the police issued only 587 traffic citations, compared to 10,069 for the same time period last year. These offenses include serious and deadly crimes such as reckless or drunk driving.
In that time, parking enforcement dropped 92%. During the same time frame in 2013, police issued 4,831 parking citations compared to 1,241 in 2014. Lax enforcement of parking laws makes it possible fire trucks and ambulances will not be able to reach their destinations in a timely manner, putting the lives and property of New Yorkers at risk.
Drug arrests also declined 84 percent, meaning that parts of the city could return to being open air drug markets as they were for some of the 1980s and 90s.
The Post notes that the police unions have said that they will not do their jobs unless "absolutely necessary." It is unclear how this relates to anti-terrorism efforts in the the city because constant vigilance is needed to prevent terrorist attacks, and if officers are being less vigilant, the city may be more at risk.
