A bipartisan group of City Council members is asking a federal judge to reject a controversial settlement agreement that requires the NYPD to scale back its enforcement during street protests, which would require police officers to reduce violence to prevent riots. They have been handcuffed and warned that they will make the city a more “dangerous place”.
In a letter to Manhattan Federal Judge Colleen McMahon on Wednesday, the council's nine-member Common Sense Caucus said it supported the Police Benevolent Association's motion to terminate the agreement.
“This will make our police officers more passive than proactive, hesitant when they should be proactive…These new procedures… will make our cities more dangerous, more frank, and less aggressive. “It would make it an undesirable place,” wrote City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Sicily). The letter was signed by five other Republicans and three Democrats in the caucus.
Mr. McMahon is scheduled to hold a 2 p.m. hearing on Monday regarding the proposed abrogation of the agreement.
As part of a settlement agreement announced in September to resolve a lawsuit alleging that officers used excessive force during 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, the New York City Police Department and other parties They agreed to a series of reforms to the handling of demonstrations that judges still need to approve.
Police must follow a time-consuming “four-step” response system and must contact off-scene commanders to give the green light to make an arrest. “Kettling” — a crowd control tactic in which protesters are herded into a small area and confined before being arrested — would also be prohibited under the proposed settlement.
Although the letter does not mention “kettling,” Borelli said he believes officers should be allowed to use it under certain circumstances.
“Restricting the use of a controversial tactic is not the same as banning it completely,” he said.
Shortly after the settlement was reached, the city began to be rocked by violent pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the wake of Hamas's sadistic sneak attack on Israel on October 7th.
Some protests have attempted to close bridges and suspend major events such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The letter states that the city is already “grappling with the harmful consequences” of daily protests, which “pose significant safety risks” to officers and the public, and that “have a negative impact on our economy and the city as a whole.” It is having a negative impact on the quality of life.” ”
Nearly 400 police officers were injured during Black Lives Matter protests in New York City in the summer of 2020, according to a PBA lawyer.
City officials estimated in late December that officers had had to respond to 483 protests in the Big Apple since the Oct. 7 attack, or about six a day.
The PBA urged McMahon to consider comments made by Mayor Adams on Dec. 26, in which he expressed regret that the administration had agreed to the settlement but was following the advice of the city attorney.
“Anyone who polices this city should be concerned about what's in the settlements,” the mayor said.
The city attorney's office and the mayor's office did not return messages.
