The NYPD's 'Work Stoppage' Is Surreal

[UglyGreed]

Brace yourselves for a weird night. There might be a little extra drama when the ball drops in Times Square, thanks to one of the more confusing political protests in recent memory.


On a night when more than a million potentially lawbreaking, probably tipsy revelers will be crowding the most densely-populated city blocks in America, all eyes will be on the city cops stuck with holiday duty.

Why? Because the New York City Police are in the middle of a slowdown. The New York Post is going so far as to call it a "virtual work stoppage."

Furious at embattled mayor Bill de Blasio, and at what Police Benevolent Association chief Patrick Lynch calls a "hostile anti-police environment in the city," the local officers are simply refusing to arrest or ticket people for minor offenses – such arrests have dropped off a staggering 94 percent, with overall arrests plunging 66 percent.


Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-nypds-work-stoppage-is-surreal-20141231#ixzz3NZlHI2EO
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[ret5hd]

1. Here is how I see this all playing out:

1) the current "virtual slowdown" or whatever they call it continues for a short while more.

2) DeBlasio says something like "Damn! This is working out just fuckin' fine! Why didn't we do this before?"

3) The frustrated cops retaliate by imposing the maximum possible penalty for every infraction: jaywalking = a broken arm + maximum fine, public drunk = 25 stitches to the head + 3 days in jail + maximum fine, double parking = 2 broken ribs + 4 flat tires + 1 broken windshield + towing/impound fees, etc etc.

After that I don't know. Just basing this on their "rotten spoiled brat" behavior so far.

[fredamae]

2. I am thinking the Same thing

People are more relaxed Not being under the thumb of those who would shoot us for dropping a gum wrapper They said looked like a knife or?
I feel even Less secure now after seeing how they handle "manufactured personal crises"...worse than a 2nd grade bully who got caught cutting in line.
These particular officers are immature spoiled babies in mens bodies. And it IS a small minority of NYPD doing this, right? That's what I've been reading, anyway.

[sendero]

4. How can it be a small minority...

.... when the ticket/arrest rates have dropped so much?

This is a CONTRACT NEGOTIATION, nothing more nothing less.

[Major Nikon]

6. The end game to both of those scenarios is people starting to realize they don't need so many cops

More cops means more of them locking up people for crimes that should have been resolved with a ticket.

Too many cops have a god complex and if they keep this up they are going to learn who they really work for the hard way.

[former9thward]

12. Not in NYC.

The people want cops and plenty of them.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. Those are the WHITE penalties you list there.

There's a different schedule for blacks:

Jaywalking=death by gun
Public drunkenness=death by choking
Double parking=death by impromptu blue firing squad

[former9thward]

11. #2 would never happen.

The city is heavily dependent on ticket revenue.

[malaise]

3. Looks like they made a big mistake here

Folks had an absolutely great time last night and early this morning.
Ah well! This may be a Happy New Year!

[Jesus Malverde]

5. Might be the best NY eve since 911.

The cops have over played their hand.

poop on them.

[Adrahil]

7. The cops are pissing away what little respect I had for them. n/t

[rhett o rick]

8. So what is their demand to settle the work stoppage? If it's respect, they are on

the wrong path. Seems to me like the work stoppage may show that NYC has too many police on the payroll.

This is extortion that can go terribly wrong.

[maced666]

9. Really? Because cops were EVERYWHERE on the broadcasts last night.

Lines of them around crowds, in the crowds...
Maybe they didn't get the word out.

[Scuba]

14. Oh, they're on the clock, just not arresting anyone.

[ncjustice80]

13. Sounds like NYC could use about a 66% reduction in its police force.