NEW YORK, NY - Mayor Eric Adams has recently staunchly defended the New York Police Department (NYPD) and its top brass for their recent combative social media posts aimed at critics and reporters.
The defense comes amidst a flurry of backlash from various quarters, including politicians, commentators, and the media.
Adams, a retired police captain, stood by the NYPD's public information account, which coined a derisive nickname for a reporter, and Chief of Patrol John Chell, who challenged a left-leaning political commentator and insinuated voters should unseat a sitting elected official.
These posts were issued before and after the funeral for Officer Jonathan Diller, an officer tragically killed during a traffic stop.
“I want the leaders of the administration to stand up for police officers who are placing their lives on the line. And I think that’s what they’re doing,” Adams emphasized during a press briefing. He further defended the timing of the posts, highlighting that a column by Daily News journalist Harry Siegel, which criticized NYPD brass for not addressing transit system lawlessness, was ill-timed as it was released on the same day as Officer Diller's funeral.
Siegel's column had incorrectly cited statistics regarding homicides in the city’s subways.
Even after a correction was published, the NYPD's top brass, including Chief of Patrol John Chell and Chief of Transit Michael Kemper, continued their criticisms of Siegel on social media.
“We are calling you and your ‘latte’ friends out on their garbage. … Well get your popcorn ready, we have a strong platform too!” Chell said in one post, responding to Siegel’s column.
“To write a story that indicates crime has gone up 150% in certain crime, it was wrong. To put things in a column that were inaccurate was wrong,”
Justifying the NYPD's response, Adams stated, “Standing by and continuously allowing people to just take open shots at the men and women who place their lives on the line is just not acceptable.”
The mayor stressed the importance of accountability, stating that while the columnist shared his opinion, so did the police department.
He called for all parties, including the police department, the criminal justice system, and elected officials, to be held accountable for their actions.
However, Adams also acknowledged that his plan to deploy police officers in the subway system to address mental health issues needs refinement. During a recent survey of his subway safety efforts, Adams observed instances where officers were reluctant to engage with individuals clearly in need of assistance.
While the NYPD's social media strategy has stirred controversy, with critics calling the department's tone and name-calling "unhinged," Adams remains firm in his support.
He stated that he believes that the department's aggressive stance on social media is about accountability and standing up for the hardworking men and women of the NYPD.
“When it comes to name-calling, I think we’ve been very reserved,” NYPD’s deputy commissioner of public information, Tarik Sheppard said. “However, when it’s appropriate and it fits — own it.”
The defense comes amidst a flurry of backlash from various quarters, including politicians, commentators, and the media.
Adams, a retired police captain, stood by the NYPD's public information account, which coined a derisive nickname for a reporter, and Chief of Patrol John Chell, who challenged a left-leaning political commentator and insinuated voters should unseat a sitting elected official.
These posts were issued before and after the funeral for Officer Jonathan Diller, an officer tragically killed during a traffic stop.
“I want the leaders of the administration to stand up for police officers who are placing their lives on the line. And I think that’s what they’re doing,” Adams emphasized during a press briefing. He further defended the timing of the posts, highlighting that a column by Daily News journalist Harry Siegel, which criticized NYPD brass for not addressing transit system lawlessness, was ill-timed as it was released on the same day as Officer Diller's funeral.
Siegel's column had incorrectly cited statistics regarding homicides in the city’s subways.
Even after a correction was published, the NYPD's top brass, including Chief of Patrol John Chell and Chief of Transit Michael Kemper, continued their criticisms of Siegel on social media.
“We are calling you and your ‘latte’ friends out on their garbage. … Well get your popcorn ready, we have a strong platform too!” Chell said in one post, responding to Siegel’s column.
“To write a story that indicates crime has gone up 150% in certain crime, it was wrong. To put things in a column that were inaccurate was wrong,”
Justifying the NYPD's response, Adams stated, “Standing by and continuously allowing people to just take open shots at the men and women who place their lives on the line is just not acceptable.”
The mayor stressed the importance of accountability, stating that while the columnist shared his opinion, so did the police department.
He called for all parties, including the police department, the criminal justice system, and elected officials, to be held accountable for their actions.
However, Adams also acknowledged that his plan to deploy police officers in the subway system to address mental health issues needs refinement. During a recent survey of his subway safety efforts, Adams observed instances where officers were reluctant to engage with individuals clearly in need of assistance.
While the NYPD's social media strategy has stirred controversy, with critics calling the department's tone and name-calling "unhinged," Adams remains firm in his support.
He stated that he believes that the department's aggressive stance on social media is about accountability and standing up for the hardworking men and women of the NYPD.
“When it comes to name-calling, I think we’ve been very reserved,” NYPD’s deputy commissioner of public information, Tarik Sheppard said. “However, when it’s appropriate and it fits — own it.”
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