ALBANY (VINnews) — In a statement issued on Wednesday by the head of the New York State Troopers PBA, “demanded” that state troopers be removed from New York City “and cease any law enforcement activities within that jurisdiction.”
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“We have arrived at this unfortunate decision due to the hastily written so-called police reform legislation recently passed by the New York City Council,” wrote PBA President Thomas H. Mungeer in his statement. “This poorly conceived bill, which will be signed into law by Mayor de Blasio today, puts an undue burden upon our troopers; it opens them up to criminal and civil liability for restraining a person during a lawful arrest in a manner that is consistent with their training and is legal throughout the rest of the state. Furthermore, this legislation will prevent troopers from safely and effectively arresting resistant subjects.”
Part of Mungeer’s grievances are tied to the new regulations that “criminalize methods of restraint, including putting any pressure on a person’s chest or back,” when these methods are relied upon by law enforcement across the nation “when officers are faced with violently combative subjects.”
“I find it extremely troubling that these acts are now defined as criminal in nature, even if they were unintentional and no injury was sustained by the subject,” Mungeer said.
In recent years, Gov. Cuomo has called upon the state troopers to increase their presence in NYC, mostly to assist in patrolling the city’s airports, bridges and tunnels.
Mungeer’s statement was directed to State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett.
The complete statement reads as follows:
For Immediate Release: July 15, 2020
Troopers’ Union President Demands Removal of Troopers from New York City
As President of the New York State Troopers PBA, I am demanding that New York State Police Superintendent Keith Corlett immediately remove all uniformed State Troopers currently stationed within New York City and cease any law enforcement activities within that jurisdiction.
We have arrived at this unfortunate decision due to the hastily written so-called police reform legislation recently passed by the New York City Council. This poorly conceived bill, which will be signed into law by Mayor de Blasio today, puts an undue burden upon our Troopers; it opens them up to criminal and civil liability for restraining a person during a lawful arrest in a manner that is consistent with their training and is legal throughout the rest of the State. Furthermore, this legislation will prevent Troopers from safely and effectively arresting resistant subjects.
The imminent finalization of NYC Administrative Code section 10-181 will criminalize methods of restraint, including putting any pressure on a person’s chest or back. These techniques are commonly used by many law enforcement agencies statewide and nationwide when officers are faced with violently combative subjects. I find it extremely troubling that these acts are now defined as criminal in nature, even if they were unintentional and no injury was sustained by the subject.
Our Troopers have become a familiar sight in New York City over the past five years following Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s request to help protect the city’s airports, bridges and tunnels against the threat of terrorism. Additionally, our presence there has significantly increased the safety of all New Yorkers as well as the millions of visitors who travel there each year.
Despite the positive effects of the presence of Troopers in New York City, this constraining legislation leaves us with few other options. One option would involve New York State Attorney General Letitia James indemnifying State Police members from this ill-conceived law. As that is unlikely to happen, it is the position of the Troopers PBA that if we continue to allow our members to remain stationed and conduct police activity within the five boroughs of New York City, we may be opening them up to criminal and civil liabilities simply by doing the job they were trained to do.
Thomas H. Mungeer
President
New York State Troopers Police Benevolent Association
We wouldn’t be missing them. They literally do nothing accept for givining out more tickets, just to spite Schmuck De blasio, all on our acct. .
Good riddens!
Why spoils any one want to be a cop in nyc
It’s a loose loose for them
Now the state troopers are not going to police the city even if forced to be here. Next it will be the regular police force. In other word there will be no one to protect us in the near future, while DeBlasio and the criminals will run the city. As long as they stick to their neighborhoods and hurt each other – no problem. However, how long do you think it will be before it spreads into our neighborhoods? Advice – Keep one foot ready to run to Israel.
I still can’t believe that the NYC police didn’t make some kind of work stoppage to protest these insane laws.
Great now I can calmly pass the bridges and tunnels like a normal us citizen, it always looks like you’re in Russia or china with all those cops sitting around.
Good riddance. Who needs those Storm troopers with their nazi boots threatening us? We have enough tzaros from the regular NYPD. We don’t need those interlopers harassing us as well.
You guys are sick. Yes they give tix but their presence has deterred plenty of crime. Would you rather get a ticket if you were wrongfully speeding orbwould you rather get stopped by some gang that’s been running around in NYC and get hurt ?
Those State Troopers are mostly from upstate. I’m sure they love to stick it to us since most of them hate super liberal NYC.
Yes, they’ve given me tickets over the years. But they can cooperate with the NCPD to keep us safe from New York City.
Yes, I saw it years ago. Kurt Russell was superb in that film. I felt bad for the cab driver in the end. Unfortunately, NYC is slowing denigrating towards that matzav. With this being a sanctuary City and bail reform having people killed daily, it is getting frightening. I don’t see any normal candidates running for Mayor next year that could reverse this trend.
Maybe they could find career opportunities in the hospitality sector.
I don’t know about running to Israel, but that’s for sure, we should all get guns and protect ourselves, we live in the most horrific dangerous horrible times…
I love the racists and defectives who can’t put together a grammatically correct sentence.
The troopers can all eat their hats for breakfast and then hand in their badges .
they can give me their cars before being dismissed