PBA President Patrick Lynch took to the airwaves Sunday to blame recent spikes in shootings and slashings on an “anti-police atmosphere” in the city.
“When you hear that we’re going to not go after quality-of-life issues on the street and we’re in an anti-police atmosphere, what happens is the perpetrators on the street, they get emboldened,” the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association chief said in an interview on John Catsimatidis’ 970 AM radio show.
“We have shootings on the rise, and we have slashings on the rise, and it’s because the criminals on the street feel emboldened, empowered to go out and commit these acts,” he said.
Shooting victims increased by 24 percent — from 62 incidents to 77 — over the 28-day period that ended last Sunday, March 27, according to the latest NYPD data available. Shooting incidents increased 14 percent — from 57 to 65 incidents — in the same period.
Lynch said criminals know they’re not going to be stopped and frisked, so they are carrying weapons.
The NYPD’s numbers show that while shooting victims were up for the month, they have been on decline overall so far this year, decreasing 5.2 percent, from 230 to 218. Shooting incidents also have decreased by 12 percent, from 206 to 181.
The number of shooting victims and shooting incidents have also dropped 20 percent and 22 percent, respectively, over the past five years.
Bratton said in the middle of last month that there were 916 slashings since Jan. 1. That’s a 22 percent increase for the same period in 2015. More recent figures weren’t available.
Lynch put the blame for anti-cop sentiment on City Hall, City Council and the independent police watchdog the Civilian Complaint Review Board.
“If you look at the words coming from City Hall, the anti-police atmosphere, the anti-police legislation coming out of the City Council, a CCRB that’s not run fairly and impartially but run as a favor bank for City Hall — where’s a police officer to turn?” Lynch said.
“We want to go to work, honestly do our jobs, be supported,” he said. “But if they’re not supported, they’re second guessed, they hesitate on the street, they’re fearful that their livelihood will be lost.”
An NYPD spokesman said Sunday, “Contrary to Pat Lynch’s comments, shootings and murders are at all-time lows.
“Shootings are down 12 percent, and murders are down even more, by 22 percent. Additionally, gun seizures are up, significantly.”