NYPD Commissioner Makes Appeal for Community Video to Help Deter Hate Crimes
Citizen users can play a part in protecting vulnerable communities
Citizen’s mission is to Protect the World, which includes ensuring that all people in all communities are safe and protected from bias-motivated crime.
On Wednesday, November 7th, Commissioner James P. O’Neill of the New York Police Department, along with Mayor Bill de Blasio and others, held a press conference discussing October’s latest crime statistics, noting that while overall crime in New York City continues to drop, there has been a noticeable uptick in the prevalence of hate crimes in 2018.
Commissioner O’Neill noted that officers are finding community support and assistance by making use of public-submitted video.
“Working close to the communities we’re sworn to protect and serve,” Commissioner O’Neill said, “if anyone’s a witness, if anyone has video, come forward[…], if you have anything out there that can help us, that would really make the difference.”
Mayor Bill de Blasio added: “As the relationship between police and community grows closer, information is flowing that often stops crimes, or allows NYPD to take actions that inhibit crime, including hate crime.”
“Human beings respond to consequences. If the propagators of hate crimes see that there are consequences for others, if they see that justice is swift, that’s another important factor in inhibiting other hate crimes,” de Blasio said.
One of the best ways Citizen users can Protect the World is though transparency, by recording live video when an incident occurs nearby. This greatly assists in informing fellow Citizen users of active hazards and emergencies, but also brings transparency to communities and can help to discourage those who commit transgressions, including hate crimes. Your videos help keep our cities safe.
If you have useful information pertaining to active investigations, contact 1–888-NYC-SAFE, or if it’s an emergency, call 911.
