NYPD Unveils Unit to Tackle Panhandling and Public Urination

Jessica Tisch, the Police Commissioner of New York, announced on Thursday that a new unit will be created to address concerns about quality of life and take action against panhandling and public urination.

Tisch stated at the annual State of the NYPD event that when neighborhoods are plagued with issues such as aggressive street vending and public urination or abandoned vehicles, this gives the impression that the community is unsafe.

She added, “Our work should not only ensure people’s safety but also their feelings of security.”

“Our officers will not walk past someone who is breaking the law or disrupting passengers.” “We are going to fix the problem.”

This announcement comes just a week after officials began placing two police officers on every overnight subway train. The move was part of a $77 million plan to increase public safety by putting 750 additional police officers at stations and platforms, and 300 extra officers on trains.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said at the time, “We have doubled the number of law enforcement personnel working in the New York City Subway system in a year.”

Tisch said that the initiatives would help “chart out a new path, one which reestablishes the natural partnership between police officers and the people they serve as well as one that balances the needs of public safety with the rights of criminal defendants.”