Introduction to the Community Response Team
In the fall of 2022, the New York Police Department began posting videos online to promote one of its latest initiatives: the Community Response Team, an elite unit formed under the city’s new mayor, Eric Adams. Punctuated by dramatic music and quick cuts, the first video, dubbed “True Blue NYPD Finest,” looked like the TV show “Cops.” Officers run and shout as they chase people joyriding on motorbikes and ATVs.
Concerns Within the NYPD
Within the NYPD, department officials were disturbed by what they saw. “I threw red flags,” said Matthew Pontillo, a former chief who noted what he called “constitutional concerns” in the footage. But Pontillo and two former department executives say that when they raised the videos and the officers’ conduct with one of the unit’s leaders, he pushed back and complained to an unlikely party: the mayor himself.
The Mayor’s Involvement
If Adams was troubled by the unit’s actions, he hasn’t shown it. Instead, for more than two years, the mayor has repeatedly championed the CRT and his allies who run it, even as NYPD officials have warned its policing has been too aggressive. In 2023, for example, Pontillo wrote a scathing internal audit after finding that some CRT officers were wrongfully stopping New Yorkers and failing to document the incidents. Weeks later, the mayor took to Instagram to boost the unit.
A Unit Acting Recklessly
Samuel Williams died in 2023 after an encounter with the CRT that lasted about a second. It was Memorial Day weekend, and the Bronx man had gone riding on his motorbike after feeding his 6-year-old daughter breakfast and kissing her goodbye. He was crossing the University Heights bridge when CRT officers driving in the opposite direction spotted him. Unlicensed motorcyclists joyriding in the city have long been a nuisance to New Yorkers and of particular concern to Adams.
Operating in the Shadows
The CRT began to make waves after the department started posting videos in the fall of 2022. In one 38-minute spot, Chell described how the team was created to address so-called quality-of-life issues, such as unlicensed motorbikes and ATVs. By the spring of 2023, it was not only NYPD officials who were asking questions. Pontillo, a top department oversight official at the time, said the federal monitor’s office charged with overseeing the NYPD’s use of stop-and-frisk called him to ask about the CRT.
Mayoral Priorities
Over the past year, the CRT’s actions have often reflected the mayor’s priorities. Last spring, for example, Adams became the public face of opposition to demonstrations at Columbia University over the war in Gaza. Blaming “professional outside agitators,” he said, “This must end now.” That night, khaki-wearing CRT officers led the way in breaching a building that had been barricaded by protesters.
Conclusion
The Community Response Team has been a subject of controversy, with many questioning its aggressive policing tactics. The unit’s actions have resulted in several incidents of misconduct, including the death of Samuel Williams. Despite these incidents, Mayor Eric Adams has continued to support the unit, even promoting its leaders. The CRT’s secrecy and lack of transparency have raised concerns among NYPD officials and the public, highlighting the need for greater oversight and accountability.
FAQs
Q: What is the Community Response Team?
A: The Community Response Team is an elite unit formed under Mayor Eric Adams to address quality-of-life issues in New York City.
Q: What have been some of the concerns surrounding the CRT?
A: Concerns have been raised about the unit’s aggressive policing tactics, including wrongful stops and lack of documentation.
Q: How has Mayor Adams responded to these concerns?
A: Despite concerns from NYPD officials, Mayor Adams has continued to support the CRT and promote its leaders.
Q: What is the significance of the CRT’s secrecy and lack of transparency?
A: The CRT’s secrecy and lack of transparency have raised concerns among NYPD officials and the public, highlighting the need for greater oversight and accountability.
Q: What is the outcome of the incidents involving the CRT?
A: Several incidents involving the CRT have resulted in misconduct, including the death of Samuel Williams, and have led to calls for greater accountability and oversight.
