New York, United States. The New York Police Department is investigating a snowball fight in Washington Square Park after several officers were hit, with city leaders disagreeing on whether those involved should face arrest and prosecution.
Video prompts debate over conduct
Video shared widely on social media on Monday showed officers being pelted with snow by a crowd in Manhattan, prompting debate over whether the incident was part of a public snowball fight or whether some participants assaulted police officers.
Police commissioner calls incident criminal
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said within hours that the video showed criminal assault on uniformed officers. In a statement, she said it showed “individuals attacking cops” in Washington Square Park and that detectives were investigating. Tisch said the behavior shown was “disgraceful” and “criminal.”
Mayor describes participants as kids at a snowball fight
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on Tuesday that he saw “kids throwing snowballs with too little regard or respect for the police” on a day when school was canceled. Asked repeatedly at a Tuesday afternoon press conference whether he agreed a crime had been committed, he declined to say and repeated that the videos showed “kids at a snowball fight.”
Mamdani praised police for helping keep New Yorkers safe during and after Monday’s blizzard and urged people not to throw snowballs at officers. “They and our entire city workforce deserve to be treated with respect,” he said, adding, “The only person in our city’s workforce who deserves to be treated with a snowball is me.”
Officers treated after responding to 911 call
With schools and roads closed, New Yorkers gathered in Washington Square Park on Monday afternoon amid about 20 inches of snow, in the second major snowstorm Mamdani has faced since taking office on Jan. 1.
Police said several officers responded around 4 p.m. to a 911 call about a disorderly group in the park. One widely shared video showed officers walking through a crowd as snow was thrown at them before officers pushed at least two people to the ground. One officer appeared to be hit in the eye, which looked reddened.
Tisch’s office and the mayor’s office said two officers had lacerations to the face or neck from snowballs, and police said they were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition.
No arrests reported as of Tuesday afternoon
Police said no arrests had been made as of Tuesday afternoon.
Do you think participants in a public snowball fight should face arrest if officers are hit and injured?