Bloomberg jump-starts Weprin plan

Shortly after City Councilmember David Weprin revealed a comprehensive “Auxiliary Officers Assistance Plan” on the steps of City Hall, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that $3.3 million from next month’s Executive Budget will be used to buy more than 4,500 protective vests for all of the City’s Auxiliary Police (AP) officers.
On Tuesday, March 27 Bloomberg spoke at the New York Police Department (NYPD) 6th Precinct in Manhattan, the command of AP officers Nicholas Pekearo and Eugene Marshalik, who were gunned down on a Greenwich Village street on Wednesday, March 14.
“I’ve always held an incredible admiration for New York’s Finest,” said Bloomberg, “But I also have a special respect for the men and women of our Auxiliary program who volunteer to fight crime. They do it for no pay and no glory - but purely because of a love they have for our city and a strong desire to serve their neighbors.”
The state-of-the-art bullet-resistant vests, recently redesigned by the NYPD and manufactured by Second Chance Armor, Incorporated, are the same as those now issued to police officers. The vests were redesigned to offer more protection after Police Officer Dillon Stewart died in a hail of bullets during a car chase in Brooklyn on August 28, 2005.
In the days following the shooting of Pekearo and Marshalik, Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly created a Review Committee headed by Chief of Patrol Nicholas Estavillo, to examine the recruitment, selection and training of AP officers, as well as how they are equipped, deployed and supervised.
Weprin expressed satisfaction with the proposal. “I knew they were looking at it and I’m very happy that the Mayor put it in the Executive Budget. The vests are the most expensive part of the plan and it’s wonderful that they don’t have to wait for budget negotiations.”
Unlike other police equipment, the protective vests must be fitted to each wearer. “It’s going to take months to get 4,500 vests and get them fitted, and the sooner we start, the better,” Weprin said.
Bloomberg also announced that $617,000 will be committed annually to outfit new AP officers. Bloomberg called the killing of the two AP officers, “an awful, cold-blooded crime that shocked the entire city” and declared, “But now we are determined to turn that pain into a force for good.”
AP officers are volunteers who wear uniforms and are issued radios, batons and handcuffs. They augment NYPD patrols, especially at special events and accident scenes and are called “the eyes and ears” of the Department. They have no special status, as in some rural areas, and no not carry firearms.
According to Weprin, “I think it’s about time we give these volunteers the status of New York City Special Patrolmen while they are on duty, which would make it a more serious crime if they were assaulted. In addition, they and their families should have benefits if they are injured or killed while protecting the people of New York.” He said that they should also be issued more police equipment, such as mace, collapsible batons and protective masks.