Earlier this week, a couple of Bronx criminals made a bet with themselves — they bet they could get away with viciously attacking and violently assaulting two uniformed New York City police officers who dared to ask them to stop smoking in the subway.
Unfortunately, their bet paid off: the two criminals who were apprehended are already back on the streets.
Attacks like this are not isolated incidents.
They are a routine feature of the dangerous and violent environment in which cops now work.
Through the first nine months of this year, more than 4,000 cops have been assaulted — with hundreds requiring hospital treatment — a staggering increase of more than 40% since 2021.
New Yorkers who see these stats and watch videos of cops being attacked day after day are rightfully wondering “Am I safe? Is my family safe?” And, “Why is this happening and what can be done to help protect our police officers?”
There are many factors that have contributed to this environment, but there is one thing New Yorkers can do immediately: rally around their police officers and say, “Enough is enough.”
The PBA will be working to make sure every piece of the justice system does its job and holds cop-bashers accountable.
But we need the help of New Yorkers who know that we can’t have safe subways and streets if the cops who protect them aren’t safe.
Patrick Hendry is head of the Police Benevolent Association, the union representing uniformed NYPD officers.
