The chief of the NYPD strongly criticized the progressive bail reform laws in the state. She believes these laws have created a system where repeat offenders are released back onto the streets before police can even complete the necessary paperwork.
NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch pointed out that despite an overall decrease in crime in the city over the past three months, serial violent offenders continue to harm innocent New Yorkers due to a high rate of reoffending. Tisch highlighted a recent incident where an individual with numerous prior arrests attempted to assault a woman on a train, citing it as a clear example of how these laws are making the city less safe.
Moreover, Tisch mentioned that the police force is still dealing with the repercussions of the “defund the police” movement. She noted that police leaders are struggling to attract new recruits and even considering lowering the college credit requirements to join the force. Tisch also emphasized that the NYPD remains committed to prosecuting crimes, regardless of a person’s immigration status, and will not engage in civil immigration enforcement activities, such as deportations, in accordance with local laws.
Jessica Tisch, Carlton McPherson , top right, Simon Martial, who allegedly pushed a woman to her death on a NYC platform, bottom right. (REUTERS/Jeenah Moon, left, Barry Williams for NY Daily News via Getty Images, top right, WNYW, bottom right.)
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch (REUTERS/Jeenah Moon)
Martin was arrested last week after Tisch said he tried to rape a woman after assaulting her, but before the incident, he had an arrest warrant pending for punching a woman in the face. When police arrested him for the bench warrant, the district attorney’s office declined to prosecute the case, and then a judge vacated his warrant.
“What are we doing? Tisch asked. “This just can’t keep happening.”
She said that in 2024, the number of suspects arrested three or more times increased by 61% for burglary, 64% for shoplifting, 71% for grand larceny, 83% for robberies and 5,019% for auto theft.
“I am channeling the voice of virtually every NYPD cop and everyday New Yorkers when I say enough is enough,” Tisch raged. “Criminals in New York City. Criminals in New York City, including violent repeat offenders, continue to be given every courtesy and the people of the city suffer as a result.”
Photo of 61-year-old Simon Martial, who allegedly pushed a woman to her death on a NYC platform (WNYW)
Tisch said that despite the recidivism problem, February will mark the third straight month of double-digit declines in citywide index crime. So far this year, overall major crime is down more than 15%, she said.
Despite these gains, she said the force is in the midst of a hiring crisis problem, and blamed the lack of recruits on the defund the police movement, which started in 2020 following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“This is not a budget problem. Mayor Adams has given us all the resources we need and greenlit every class we wanted to bring in, but the applicants just aren’t there. It wasn’t that long ago when people would wait years to get the call to join the academy, and every incoming class was full to capacity.”
Kamel Hawkins, a repeat offender, was charged with attempted murder for allegedly shoving a 45-year-old man onto subway tracks while a train approached last month. (MTA)
“Now we are practically begging people to take the exam, and when they pass, we are scrambling to get them hired as quickly as possible.”
She said that police on the beat had seen abuse hurled at them, given the toxic rhetoric that emanated from the defunding movement.
“A lot of the rhetoric aimed at our police is vile, and the pendulum has swung too far away from what I consider to be the most important and noble job anyone could do,” Tisch said. “And we must swing it back because it’s quite simple. More cops on patrol make our city safer.”
