The shooting deaths of two New York City police officers has NYPD police afraid to make minor arrests for fear of violent retaliation, reported The Huffington Post.
According to the HuffPo report, NYPD officers told the New York Post that the recent uproar against police and violence that took two officers’ lives has made members of the force fearful.
“I’m not writing any summons,” said one officer. “Do you think I’m going to stand there so someone can shoot me or hit me in the head with an ax? I’m concerned about my safety. I want to go to home to my wife and kids.”
It stands to reason that NYPD officers would be fearful after two fellow officers were murdered in a shooting motivated by anger against the murder-by-cop of Eric Garner. Because of these events, arrests have plummeted by 66 percent in New York City just over the last week. Traffic violation and lower offense citations have both decreased by 94 percent.
It has been noted that officers’ refusal to write citations are make minor arrests is not only motivated by fear, by also a small protest against New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
de Blasio spoke out against the police brutality that took the lives of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and conservatives and police supporters misconstrued that as the mayor speaking out against police, leaving a feeling of betrayal among police.
The murder of two officers was tragic and unnecessary, but it speaks volumes about the present issue regarding the relationship between officers and the public. NYPD officers refusing to cite citizens is but another part of the current narrative.
