He woke up to exactly what he is trying to deter.
Joe Thompson, founder of the Howard Beach Civilian Observation Patrol, was on watch Wednesday night and was getting a great response from his neighbors about his work.
But the next morning when he checked up on his patrol car, he saw a slash in one of its tires.
“I came back from patrol around 12 a.m. and parked my car in front of the house,” Thompson said. “When I came outside I noticed my tire was flat and when I looked at it I noticed a big slash.”
Thompson and his team just started patrolling the streets of Howard Beach and Lindenwood last week and have gotten a positive response from many residents. The slashed tire came as a shock to Thompson but he said it was something he could see happening.
“You’re always going to catch a few people that are against what you do,” Thompson said. “It’s a shame.”
Thompson said the vandalism will not alter his plans.
He said he hopes to have more civilian patrol cars on the streets in the future and that this one act of vandalism will not deter him.
“We are here to help the community,” Thompson said. “This won’t stop us from doing our patrol.”
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