Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella joined police union leaders in Manhattan on Friday to call on New York City to address a surge in violence against NYPD officers.
Fossella, Detectives’ Endowment Association President Paul DiGiacomo, and Lieutenants’ Benevolent Association President Lou Turco took to the Detectives’ Endowment Association headquarters in Tribeca to shine a light on the more than 3,200 assaults that have occurred against officers in 2023. The figure represents a 21% increase from 2022 and a 41% increase from 2021, according to data provided by the borough president’s office.
“What seems to be happening across the city, state and across parts of the country is just a total reckless abandonment of doing the right thing, and a lawlessness that continues to grow without any accountability,” said Fossella. “Far too often, criminals are allowed to assault a police officer without any real consequence. Even if they are arrested for the assault, they might be back on the street in no time. If the individual is stopped for whatever reason, they often start a fight with the police officer. And why do they do it? Because they can get away with it.”
Fossella called on the city and state to implement new policies, including a discussion of a no-plea agreement for the assault of police officers.
“We stand united because we don’t want to see another name on the wall downstairs,” said Fossella, referencing the Detectives’ Endowment Association Wall of Honor. “This is a very significant time to understand that we should never forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of our city. We don’t want to have to go to another police funeral because things escalated and a cop was killed.”
Joining Fossella, DiGiacomo and Turco were the families of Detectives Patrick H. Rafferty, Randolph Holder, Wenjian Liu, and Dillon H. Stewart. The detectives were all killed in the line of duty.
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