A culture that pampers – and encourages – criminals led to the shooting on Christmas Eve of a New York Police officer in Brooklyn, according to the head of the city’s largest police union.
The 27-year-old police officer was probably saved by his bulletproof vest after being shot in the back while responding to a domestic dispute shortly after 9 pm Thursday in Crown Heights, police said.
Flanked by Mayor Bill de Blasio and other city officials at Kings County Hospital, the president of the Police Benevolent Association Pat Lynch said after the suspect was not afraid to shoot New York’s Finest.
“Why does a criminal feel bold enough to shoot a police officer? That is the question we must ask and we must answer. This is happening for several reasons. Lack of support on the street, squandering by the police, bail reform, lack of prosecution. That’s why this is happening, ”said Lynch.
The suspect, identified as William Moss, shot the policeman after his girlfriend’s mother called the police to alert them that he threatened to come and open fire, according to police sources.
The officers were talking to the young woman when Moss arrived, shot the policeman and fled, according to sources.
Police chased Moss to nearby Prospect Place, where they fired multiple shots at him and took him into custody.
“When a criminal is not afraid to draw a gun to fire a gun. Sometimes, they are not the worst criminals in the world. But they are still doing that. We need to stop saying that we are lucky. We have to stop counting our equipment. There must be fear in the hearts of criminals that they know that if they shoot a police officer, they will not walk on the streets, ”said Lynch.
The injured policeman is being treated at the hospital.
“A man threatened his girlfriend and, as the NYPD was there, that woman is alive now,” said de Blasio at the hospital.
“Our officer, thank God, will be fine … As you saw today, the NYPD saved someone’s life,” said the mayor.
Police commissioner Dermot Shea lifted the policeman’s protective vest at the news conference to show where the bullet had lodged.
A witness said he heard several shots while working at a restaurant on Ralph Avenue.
“We just heard the gun. Like six, seven shots, ”said the man, Paul, who did not give his last name.
Police say they do not know what motivated Moss to open fire.