The chief of department for the New York City Police is warning that a rise in anti-police sentiment nationwide is leading to hesitation on the part of his officers when conducting public safety missions and has emboldened citizens looking to participate in violent crime.
“They are fearful that they may be arrested if they take some proactive type enforcement,” said chief Terence Monahan of his officers during an interview with local radio station 1010 WINS.
Since the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, a national conversation about systemic racism in policing has been sparked in cities across the country.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio has slashed funding to the department in an attempt to extend an olive branch to social justice activists who demand law enforcement be defunded.
“We’re committed to seeing a shift of funding to youth services, to social services, that will happen literally in the course of the next three weeks, but I’m not going to go into detail because it is subject to negotiation and we want to figure out what makes sense,” de Blasio said.
Since the funding cuts were announced, New York has seen an uptick in violent crime, with murders up 23%, and the number of shooting victims is up 70.4% since the beginning of the year.
NYPD leadership was warned that recent changes to the state’s cash bail system, coupled with increased scrutiny on the conduct of officers, has led to a safe haven for potential bad actors.
“We’ve mentioned bail reform, COVID releases, but just as important, if not more important, is the animosity toward police generated after the Floyd protests,” Monahan said.
“There’s a feeling that it’s safe to carry guns on the street,” he said. “We are looking for ways to change that mentality.”
On Wednesday, Monahan was one of three officers attacked by protesters during dueling demonstrations near the Brooklyn Bridge.
“This is not [a] peaceful protest, this will not be tolerated,” the department said in a statement following the incident.