Manhattan Police Officials Call Out DA As Shootings Rise

MANHATTAN, NY — Two of Manhattan's top uniformed officers are using their official social media accounts to call out elected officials and the borough's district attorney over a rise of shootings in New York City.

Patrol Borough Manhattan South Assistant Chief Stephen Hughes and Patrol Borough Manhattan North Assistant Chief Kathleen O'Reilly took to Twitter on their verified accounts to rip into fellow public servants on Sunday night. Hughes specifically named Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, Jr., calling the top prosecutor a "no show" as violence increases in the borough.

"Manhattan DA Cy Vance where are you? No show at any shooting scene!!! Our community is being attacked, there have been 24 people shot in the city in the past 24 hours....Where Are You!!!" Hughes tweeted.

O'Reilly described the rise in violence as "disgraceful" and panned the city's response to shootings.

"Where are the elected officials and violence interupter!! [sic] The community is suffering!!" reads O'Reilly's tweet sent from the official NYPD Patrol Borough Manhattan North account.

The missives were sent at the end of a July 4 long weekend that saw dozens of shootings.

Cops said Monday that 63 people were shot in at least 44 shooting incidents across the city between July 3 and 5, according to Commissioner Dermot Shea's appearance on NY1. Last year, there were 16 shooting incidents and 21 victims during the same time period.

Shea and Chief of Department Terence Monahan have blamed recent bail reform laws, the release of inmates due to the coronavirus crisis, recent police reforms and an "animosity towards police" to explain the shooting surge, but have not provided any official statistics that show the shootings are being committed by people who would otherwise be in jail.

When asked about the patrol chiefs' tweets Monday, Shea told reporters that he didn't sign off on them but understands the frustration behind them.

The Manhattan DA's office issued a statement Monday explaining that assistant district attorney's often visit crime scenes to relay relevant information to Vance. The policy predates Vance's election as DA.

"It's unclear what the Manhattan District Attorney could substantively contribute at a crime scene. We do not hold premature mini-press conferences which would potentially violate ethical rules and interfere with evidence collection," DA spokesman Danny Frost said in a statement.