File #: Res 0222-2024    Version: * Name: Make it a felony to throw or spray water, urine or any other substance on police officers. (S. 2562/A. 6578)
Type: Resolution Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 3/7/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S. 2562/A. 6578, which would make it a felony to throw or spray water, urine or any other substance on police officers.
Sponsors: Justin L. Brannan, Kalman Yeger , James F. Gennaro
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Attachments: 1. Res. No. 222, 2. March 7, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 3-7-24

Res. No. 222

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S. 2562/A. 6578, which would make it a felony to throw or spray water, urine or any other substance on police officers.

 

By Council Members Brannan, Yeger and Gennaro

Whereas, In 2019, several incidents of individuals dousing New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers with water were caught on camera and shared widely on social media; and

Whereas, One incident occurred in Brooklyn, where an individual purportedly approached

NYPD officers, who were responding to an unruly crowd, and poured a bucket of water over the

heads of the officers as the officers walked on the street, according to various sources; and

Whereas, A similar incident occurred in Harlem, according to several media outlets, where

a group of individuals allegedly splashed NYPD officers with water, and one individual hurled a

red bucket that hit an officer in the head as that officer attempted to make an arrest; and

Whereas, Similarly, according to the Wall Street Journal, two NYPD officers were also

allegedly splashed with water while working in Queens just days following the incidents in Harlem

and Brooklyn; and

Whereas, According to the Wall Street Journal, NYPD officials launched an investigation

into all three incidents and made an arrest in one of the incidents, charging the alleged perpetrator

with obstruction of governmental administration and criminal nuisance; and

Whereas, In each of the incidents, the NYPD officers refused to confront and arrest their

attackers, exercising tremendous restraint while being humiliated and disrespected; and

Whereas, These incidents were met with a swift and strong rebuke from New York City officials, such as the Mayor, the Public Advocate and many City Council members, according to various sources; and

Whereas, The Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and several Council members have called for “zero tolerance” for such behavior and the prosecution of individuals responsible for these incidents, according to Fox News; and

Whereas, S. 2562, introduced by State Senator Daphne Jordan, and companion bill A. 6578, introduced by State Assembly Member Michael Montesano, would amend the penal law and criminal procedure law to make it a felony for throwing water, urine or other substances on a police officer; and

Whereas, The PBA President supports the legislation and expressed that officers should

have the discretion to make arrests that result in felony charges in cases of dousing, according to

the Wall Street Journal; and

Whereas, S. 2562/A. 6578, if adopted, would send a message that it is not acceptable to douse police officers with water; now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, S.2652/A. 6578, which would make it a felony to throw or spray water, urine or any other substance on police officers.

Session 13

NLB

LS #3078

01/12/2024

 

 

Session 12

NLB

LS# 3078

12/30/21