Post by Prosay on Apr 26, 2020 8:37:48 GMT -5
nypost.com
De Blasio’s social distancing hotline sending cops on thousands of bogus calls
By Sara Dorn
3-4 minutes
April 25, 2020 | 3:14pm
Mayor de Blasio’s social distancing snitching program is sending cops out on thousands of dead-end calls.
Most of the 17,745 reports made to the city’s 311 complaint repository as of April 24 about people within six feet of each other were fruitless pursuits for the NYPD, according to department data.
The alleged offenders were usually gone, and police found no evidence of social distancing violations or opted not to take action on 9,378 of the calls, or 53 percent of the time.
When cops did find social distancing flouters, the most frequent outcome was unspecified “action to fix the condition,” such as a verbal directive, taken in response to 7,581 reports.
In other instances, New Yorkers made a mockery of the mayor’s public plea for tips on social distancing violators by flooding 311 with prank submissions, such as penis pics and Hitler memes.
Officers have been instructed to “prioritize” 311 calls, a police source said. When cops do catch people too close, they’ve been told to issue a verbal warning first, then escalate to a summons for either violating an emergency executive order or disorderly conduct. The department has not issued a formal written policy on social-distancing enforcement, according to the source.
Cops have made just 19 arrests, issued 143 summonses and handed out 221 fines in connection with alleged violations of social distancing rules from March 17 through April 20, according to the NYPD, which declined to give updated figures.
Most folks are practicing social distancing on their own, the department said.
The NYPD has “adapted to a number of unique and fast-changing policing challenges . . . even as the virus has placed considerable strain on the department,” said NYPD spokesperson Sgt. Jessica McRorie.
In some instances, officers have been accused of turning a blind eye to social distancing fails.
Cops were caught ignoring hundreds blatantly violating social distancing rules at Brooklyn’s Domino Park April 19, a day after de Blasio’s request for tips.
The confusion and criticism have left some cops bitter.
“The same politicians who spent years trying to eliminate proactive policing now expect us to proactively enforce social distancing,” said Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch. “Police officers will do what is necessary to protect the health of all New Yorkers, but we are always concerned that our city leaders won’t support us when we do the job they sent us out to do. Any complaints should be directed at the policymakers, not the police officers on the street.”
Meanwhile, Sergeant’s Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins said in a letter to members Friday that de Blasio’s appeal to rats “has woefully failed,” referring to the obscenities submitted.
He urged officers to use “common sense” when responding to 311 reports.
Apparently not everyone is taking the Cuomo/deBlasio comedy act too seriously:
De Blasio’s social distancing hotline sending cops on thousands of bogus calls
By Sara Dorn
3-4 minutes
April 25, 2020 | 3:14pm
Mayor de Blasio’s social distancing snitching program is sending cops out on thousands of dead-end calls.
Most of the 17,745 reports made to the city’s 311 complaint repository as of April 24 about people within six feet of each other were fruitless pursuits for the NYPD, according to department data.
The alleged offenders were usually gone, and police found no evidence of social distancing violations or opted not to take action on 9,378 of the calls, or 53 percent of the time.
When cops did find social distancing flouters, the most frequent outcome was unspecified “action to fix the condition,” such as a verbal directive, taken in response to 7,581 reports.
In other instances, New Yorkers made a mockery of the mayor’s public plea for tips on social distancing violators by flooding 311 with prank submissions, such as penis pics and Hitler memes.
Officers have been instructed to “prioritize” 311 calls, a police source said. When cops do catch people too close, they’ve been told to issue a verbal warning first, then escalate to a summons for either violating an emergency executive order or disorderly conduct. The department has not issued a formal written policy on social-distancing enforcement, according to the source.
Cops have made just 19 arrests, issued 143 summonses and handed out 221 fines in connection with alleged violations of social distancing rules from March 17 through April 20, according to the NYPD, which declined to give updated figures.
Most folks are practicing social distancing on their own, the department said.
The NYPD has “adapted to a number of unique and fast-changing policing challenges . . . even as the virus has placed considerable strain on the department,” said NYPD spokesperson Sgt. Jessica McRorie.
In some instances, officers have been accused of turning a blind eye to social distancing fails.
Cops were caught ignoring hundreds blatantly violating social distancing rules at Brooklyn’s Domino Park April 19, a day after de Blasio’s request for tips.
The confusion and criticism have left some cops bitter.
“The same politicians who spent years trying to eliminate proactive policing now expect us to proactively enforce social distancing,” said Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch. “Police officers will do what is necessary to protect the health of all New Yorkers, but we are always concerned that our city leaders won’t support us when we do the job they sent us out to do. Any complaints should be directed at the policymakers, not the police officers on the street.”
Meanwhile, Sergeant’s Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins said in a letter to members Friday that de Blasio’s appeal to rats “has woefully failed,” referring to the obscenities submitted.
He urged officers to use “common sense” when responding to 311 reports.
“And while the city claims to have begun vetting these complaints before dispersing the information to NYPD precincts, they cannot guarantee their authenticity,” Mullins wrote. “Because of this, we want to remind you to be vigilant and do not unnecessarily place yourself in harm’s way.”
Apparently not everyone is taking the Cuomo/deBlasio comedy act too seriously:
