Officers Face Park-Attack Reprimand
N E W Y O R K , July 4 -- Five police officers and three 911 dispatcherswill face disciplinary action for failing to do their jobs during aseries of attacks on women in Central Park last month, the city’spolice commissioner said Monday.
In addition, six commanding officers will receive written reprimands for their mistakes during the June11 attacks, which followed New York’s annual Puerto Rican DayParade.
In detailing results of the internal investigation, PoliceCommissioner Howard Safir said he felt “very personallyresponsible” for the attacks. Six of 59 alleged victims haveclaimed officers ignored their pleas for help.
“We are better than how we acted on that particular day,”Safir said.
29 Arrests So FarDuring the attacks, some women were doused with water, whileothers have said they were stripped, groped and robbed.Among the victims were a 14-year-old girl, three British touristsand a French couple on their honeymoon.
As of Monday, 29 teenage boys and men have been arrested.
Five officers — one lieutenant, one sergeant and three officers— face unspecified disciplinary actions for either engaging in actsof misconduct or failing to help several women, Safir said.
The officers are entitled to departmental hearings and a trialand face a range of disciplinary measures, the most severe beingdismissal.
In addition, three 911 dispatchers — all civilians — facedisciplinary action for failing to properly classify or dispatchemergency calls concerning the attacks, delaying the policeresponse, the commissioner said.
The highest ranking officers named in the police department’sprobe are Chief Allan Hoehl, head of the Manhattan South PatrolBorough, and Assistant Chief Nicholas Estavillo, head of theManhattan North Patrol Borough. Both men had key positions that dayin ensuring the parade went smoothly.
Punishment Too Little?Safir sent them “letters of instruction,” which tell thechiefs how future events like the parade should be handled. He saidthe letters were not disciplinary in nature, but acknowledged thatthe two chiefs made mistakes.
Related Stories
ABC News Live