NYC Mayor Mamdani on video of NYPD officers hit with snowballs: "Treat them with respect"
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is calling on New Yorkers to treat police with respect after video shows some officers getting pelted with snowballs Monday.
Multiple NYPD officers were hit during a pre-planned snowball fight in Washington Square Park. The officers were not there as participants, however. They were responding to multiple 911 calls of disorderly groups in the park just before 4:15 p.m.
"The behavior depicted is disgraceful and it is criminal"
The snowball fight was coordinated on social media and drew a large crowd, and was similar to one that took place during the last big snowstorm just weeks ago. This time around, however, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said some participants went too far.
"I want to be very clear," Tisch wrote on social media. "The behavior depicted is disgraceful, and it is criminal. Our detectives are investigating this matter."
No major injuries were reported, but police said two officers took themselves to a local hospital for treatment. The NYPD released images of four people they were looking for, saying they were 18-20 years old. One of the four can be seen holding a large ball of snow - the size one might traditionally associate with a snowman - in two hands above his head.
Videos circulating online show how the gathering went from innocent fun to multiple cops being repeatedly pelted in the back with snowballs as they were making their way back to their van. At one point, an officer is seen apparently threatening some of the participants with what looks like pepper spray. An unidentified officer with a bullhorn tried to calm the situation.
"Go back and do your thing. We just needed to make sure there's no trouble. What you're doing is fine. Enjoy yourselves," the officer said.
The Detectives Endowment Association and the Police Benevolent Association think those who threw the snowballs at cops should be prosecuted.
"This was disgraceful. It wasn't a joke. It wasn't a game. It was a vicious attack and assault on two New York City police officers that landed them in the hospital," PBA President Patrick Hendry told CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer.
"It looks like a snowball fight"
"I've seen the videos of kids throwing snowballs at NYPD officers in Washington Square Park. Officers, like all city workers, have been out in a historic blizzard, keeping New Yorkers safe and cars moving. Treat them with respect. If anyone's catching a snowball, it's me," Mamdani posted on social media. He was referring to his invitation to schoolkids to hit him with snowballs over his decision to return schools to in-person Tuesday.
Asked about it at a news conference Tuesday, Mamdani said he doesn't think the participants should face charges.
"I don't. From the videos that I saw seen, it looked like kids at a snowball fight," Mamdani said. "I've seen the videos of this snowball fight. It looks like a snowball fight."
"It was a vicious attack"
Hendry rejected the mayor's characterization of the incident.
"The mayor's response is a complete failure of leadership. This was not just a 'snowball fight.' This was an assault — by adults throwing chunks of ice and rocks — that landed two police officers in the hospital with head and face injuries. By ignoring their injuries and dismissing the incident, the mayor has sent a disgraceful message to every police officer who serves this city, and a dangerous message to every person who might be looking to attack a police officer in the future," Hendry said in a statement.
"Our NYPD officers put themselves on the line to protect us every day. It is never acceptable to throw anything at a police officer, full stop," Gov. Kathy Hochul said.
Sarena Townsend, a former Brooklyn prosecutor, told CBS News New York she doesn't think prosecution is warranted.
"I don't think that throwing snowballs at officers is a good thing to do. I would never encourage it. I would never do it myself. However, do I think that we need to haul people off in handcuffs and charge them with misdemeanors and potentially felonies for throwing a snowball? I do not," Townsend said.
She said prosecuting any of the participants would be sending the wrong message.
"I think people will take away from this that the police are using resources to haul people away and prosecute them for misdemeanors," Townsend said. "For something that they could've just ... tried to engage the community in such a way where it doesn't have to be an us versus them environment."
CBS News New York has reached out to the organizers of the snowball fight for comment.
