NYPD union boss says gunman who shot a cop in his bulletproof vest on Christmas Eve 'felt bold enough to pull out his weapon' because the city is letting criminals walk free on bail and defunding the police
The NYPD's union boss is taking aim at a culture he believes resulted in a cop being shot in Brooklyn on Christmas Eve.
'Why does a perp feel bold enough to shoot at a police officer? That’s the question we have to ask and we have to answer,' Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said in a press conference after the shooting.
'There’s a number of reasons this is happening,' Lynch continued. 'Lack of support on the street, defunding the police, bail reform, lack of prosecution. That’s why this is happening.'
'When a perp has no fear to pull out a weapon to shoot a gun, sometimes they’re not the worst perps in the world,' Lynch said. 'But they’re still doing it. We have to stop saying we’re lucky. We have to stop counting our equipment. There has to be fear in the hearts of the perps that they know if they shoot at a police officer, they won’t walk the streets.'
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Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch is fed up with what he sees as coddling of criminals. 'Lack of support on the street, defunding the police, bail reform, lack of prosecution. That’s why this is happening,' he said
During a press conference on Christmas Eve, Lynch demanded more support from the city
Mayor Bill de Blasio was among those flanking Lynch when the PBA president made his comments.
'A man threatened his girlfriend and because the NYPD was there that woman is alive right now,' de Blasio said. 'Our officer, thank God, is going to be OK … As you saw today, the NYPD saved someone’s life.'
According to the New York Post, the shooting happened around 9pm on Christmas Eve in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Officer Connor Boalick, 27, was responding to a domestic dispute in the area when he was allegedly shot by William Moss, whose girlfriend's mother placed the call to the police after Moss allegedly threatened to shoot the family.
Multiple officers were speaking to Moss' girlfriend when he arrived and shot Boalick before fleeing the scene.
Police followed Moss to Prospect Place and fired at the suspect before taking him into custody.
Boalick is recovering at Kings County Hospital and was saved by a bulletproof vest, which NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea showed off during the press conference.
The shooting in question happened in Crown Heights on Christmas Eve, wounding an officer
William Moss, the alleged perpetrator, shot Officer Connor Boalick before fleeing
The New York Post reports two other officers were treated for ringing in their ears caused by the shooting.
No motive has been given for Moss' alleged actions, but he had never been arrested and only once received a summons for marijuana use.
Moss was previously a victim of a domestic incident at the same address of the shooting on Christmas Eve.
In comments made to the New York Post on Friday, Moss muttered 'I’m sorry, officer' while being led into court. 'I wish it never happened.'
The 20-year-old is facing charges of attempted murder and assault.
Tension between cops and the community has been high since George Floyd's murder in May
Thursday's Christmas Eve shooting follows a shooting of two officers right before Thanksgiving. Pictured: NYD officers listening to statements made by Lynch in June
During his brief statements, Lynch recalled that this was not the first recent holiday where an NYPD officer was shot, with two officers wounded in a shootout in Queens right before Thanksgiving, according to CBSNewYork.
The suspect in that case was killed during the shootout.
Tensions between police and citizens has been heightened since George Floyd's murder in May, which sparked weeks of protests that sometimes turned violent.
Nevertheless, Lynch wants a better future where his officers are protected.
'Let's see when we come to New Year's Eve, I hope we're not here again,' Lynch concluded.