The number of arrests and criminal summonses carried out by New York city policemen both fell by nearly 30 percent last week compared to the same period in 2018, which law enforcement sources are attributing to cops hesitating in performing their duties following the firing of officer Daniel Pantaleo earlier this month, the New York Post reported on Tuesday.
Pantaleo was fired by NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill for using a fatal chokehold in 2014 while trying to arrest Eric Garner, an unarmed black man.
Police Benevolent Association chief Pat Lynch reacted with anger following the firing of Pantaleo, saying “We are urging all New York City police officers to proceed with the utmost caution in this new reality, in which they may be deemed reckless just for doing their job. We will uphold our oath, but we cannot and will not do so by needlessly jeopardizing our careers or personal safety,” silive.com reported.
Arrests fell 27 percent between Aug. 19, the day Pantaleo was fired, and Aug. 25 compared to the same period last year, while the number of criminal summonses issued dropped nearly 29% over the same period.
Several law enforcement sources told the Post that while there is no organized slowdown, policemen clearly feel that the department doesn’t have their backs, so why should they needlessly put themselves on the line?
“Who wants to be the last cop standing?” a Manhattan policeman said. “If someone’s in trouble and needs help or if a cop’s in trouble, obviously, you do what you have to do as a police officer. But if it’s discretionary, why put yourself in harm’s way?’’
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