Reflecting on my experiences in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, I recall being reassigned from a federal task force to uniformed patrol in a low-income area of Queens, New York. This was due to a significant shortage of officers, many of whom were out sick with COVID-19, some in critical condition. As a veteran detective with a background in proactive policing, I was tasked with supporting patrol operations in an environment that had undergone a significant shift since my early career days.
When I began patrolling the streets of New York in the early 2000s, proactive policing, characterized by swift, decisive action was the norm, and it was this approach that contributed to driving crime in NYC to its lowest levels in decades. However, during my time back in uniform, I observed a stark contrast. Officers seemed hesitant to engage in hands-on policing, opting to respond only to calls dispatched via radio, and demonstrating a reluctance to intervene unless absolutely necessary.
An incident that stood out involved responding to a dispatch about shots fired. Despite being located on the opposite end of the precinct, my sergeant and I were the first officers on the scene, arriving before the designated sector cars. We engaged with the complainants who identified a specific apartment into which the perpetrators had fled. Despite resistance from the occupants, we entered the apartment, citing exigent circumstances, and secured the situation. The reaction from the younger officers was disbelief; they were reluctant to act, questioning our decision to enter without a search warrant, demonstrating a lack of understanding of the exigent circumstances exception.
As I continued to patrol, it became clear that this reticence to engage in proactive policing wasn't an isolated incident. Many officers voiced their concerns about getting "jammed up", fearing repercussions such as injury, lawsuits, termination, or even death. They expressed a strong desire to avoid overtime, preferring to clock out right at the end of their shift, a stark contrast to the eagerness for extra hours and pay that was once commonplace in my early days on the force.
The reasons for this shift are complex and multifaceted, but one prominent factor was the negative portrayal of law enforcement in the media, and the calls for defunding the police that were particularly prevalent during the early days of 2020. This constant barrage of anti-police rhetoric understandably created an environment of fear and apprehension amongst the officers, discouraging them from performing their duties to the fullest extent.
Unfortunately, this reluctance to engage in proactive policing has potential long-term implications for community safety and crime rates. The lack of assertive law enforcement can embolden criminals, leading to a rise in crime and an increased number of victims. This is a distressing prospect, considering the significant strides made in reducing crime rates in NYC over the past decades.
As someone who has dedicated his life to law enforcement, it's disheartening to witness this shift. It's crucial that we address these concerns head-on, ensuring our officers feel supported and protected, able to perform their duties without fear of undue repercussions. Only then can we hope to sustain the low crime rates that we worked so hard to achieve.
Citations:
There are no citations as this is a personal account.