Transcript: Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner O'Neill Host Media Avail To Discuss The Increase In Anti-Semitic Incidents In New York City

March 7, 2017

Mayor Bill de Blasio: I want to – I want to thank everyone gathered here. Commissioner O’Neill and I just met with Jewish leaders from all over New York City, and particularly Jewish leaders from Staten Island, to address the threats that have been directed against this center and other Jewish community locations.

I want to say upfront, everyone takes these threats very seriously. I do as Mayor, Commissioner O’Neill and everyone in the NYPD does. We do not take this lightly at all. We are in a state of vigilance.

I commend the FBI and the NYPD for their efforts in capturing one of the individuals involved in threats against Jewish community centers around the country – but we know that there are additional threats that have not been resolved including the one directed at this center. And we know that new threats are coming in literally as of today, directed at other Jewish community institutions around the country and this is a very troubling reality.

This is a moment in time – a moment in history where forces of hate have been unleased. And it is exceedingly unsettling to people who are the victims of that hate, who have that hate directed against them.

I want to say to all of my brothers and sisters in the Jewish community – New York City stands with you, the NYPD stands with you, as your Mayor I stand with you.

We don’t take this lightly at all. We understand history and any member of the Jewish community who feels that these threats are not only unsettling but too reminiscent of the past, they have every right to feel that and we understand that.

So, our response is to be not only vigilant but aggressive. This is the stance that New York City takes and the NYPD takes in addressing hate crimes – any act of hate, any act of bias that violates the law will be investigated very thoroughly and we will work with district attorneys and with the federal authorities to ensure that there are real consequences for anyone who commits a hate crime. 

We need to show that those who purvey hate and break that law will suffer the consequences. And I believe that is one of the key ways that we deter further acts against this community and the other comminutes that have been suffering at this moment of history. Remember we see three horrible trends right now – increase in anti-Semitic incidents, and in an increase anti-Muslim incidents, and an increase in anti-LGBT incidents all happening in just the last few months. All of which must be addressed very, very aggressively.

So investigations are continuing. You’ll hear from the Commissioner in a moment. But I want to be clear that these horrible threats go against the values of New York City, they are unacceptable to us. And we will use every tool we have to bring the perpetrators to justice.

I want to thank all of the community leaders, again, from Staten Island, from all over the five boroughs who gathered with us earlier for a discussion of shared ideas and perspectives on how to continue to address this situation.

Particularly, I want to thank our host, David Sorkin, the Executive Director of Staten Island JCC. And I want to thank Scott Maurer, the CEO of the Council of Jewish Organizations of Staten Island.

The elected officials who are with us – I want to express my appreciation to District Attorney Mike McMahon, Councilmember Debbie Rose, and Councilmember Joe Borelli. From my administration – Commissioner for Community Affairs Marco Carrion, and from the NYPD Chief of Detectives Bob Boyce, the Staten Island Borough Commander Chief Delatorre, and the inspector for this precinct, the 1-2-2, Inspector Ebony Washington. We thank all of you.

And all of whom, everyone in PD is involved in this effort to investigate the threats against this center and to make sure that this center is safe, and there is a very strong line of communication between the leadership of the Jewish communities here in Staten Island and all the PD officials who are focused on this situation.

Now, we understand what’s happened around the country the last few months. We see it even happening in New York City, a place that is historically tolerant and respectful of people of all faiths and backgrounds.

My answer is we have to double down on our values. We have to show that New York is a place where every faith is respected, where we don’t tolerate intolerance, and we do something about it.

And one part of that is what the NYPD will do. But another part of that is what everyday New Yorkers can do.

You know, sometimes people hear something – they hear a statement of bias, they hear a threat made, and they explain it away or minimize what it means or they don’t want to get involved. Well, those times need to be over.

If you hear anything that might constitute a threat against the Jewish community or any other community, you have to let the NYPD know. You can’t take lightly any hate speech because hate speech can turn into acts of hate and turn into violence based on hatred.

So, we need the people of this city to be fully participate – participants, excuse me, in the efforts against hate and bias. Every New Yorker can be a part of the solution by not looking the other way and by reporting anything you hear. And that’s what the NYPD needs to do its job effectively.

You know, after 9/11 we all learned from the phrase, “If you see something, say something.” We learned to take seriously if a package was left on a subway or a bus. We learned to not assume it just might be something that someone left behind innocently. We learned to assume it might be a threat, and get the NYPD involved.

Before 9/11 we didn’t think that way. Well, we’re facing a new threat now. We’re facing a new wave of hatred and bias. We have to address it at the grassroots not just through our government.

So, if you see something, say something. If you hear something, say something. Help the NYPD to protect all of us. Help stop acts of hatred by giving the NYPD all the information you have.

I want to note, at the same as we’re deeply troubled by this atmosphere we’re living in, many people are fighting back, many people are standing up, and many people are doing things to emphasize our positive values. We’ve seen it in New York. We’ve seen it all over the country.

There have been attacks on mosques. Mosques have, literally, been burned to the ground. And members of the Jewish community have come forward to help the Muslim community rebuild the mosque.

There have been attacks on Jewish cemeteries and members of the Muslim community have come forward to help the Jewish community rebuild and restore the cemeteries.

This is when we find out what we’re made of as Americans. This is when we get an opportunity to live out, more fully, our values. I wish we didn’t have this moment in history but it calls upon us to do something.

So, even against a backdrop that’s troubling, so many New Yorkers and so many Americans have shown themselves to believe fully in the values of our nation and fully in the notion of  a multi-faith, multi-cultural society – something America was founded to be, and one of the reasons why we are a beacon to the world and why New York City is particularly admired all over the world.

I want to thank everyone at the NYPD for the vigilance and professionalism they’ve shown over these weeks. You’ll hear from Commissioner O’Neill. I want to thank him because he, in light of the situation over the weekend at Washington Cemetery, he went himself to join the investigation. I appreciate that personal commitment because people want to know the facts and they want to know that these issues are being looked at at the highest level.

But we do not take these things lightly and I conclude by saying – before a few words in Spanish because it wouldn’t be New York City if we weren’t in a Jewish center speaking Spanish –

[Laughter]

I conclude by saying fighting hate is everybody’s business.

New York is great because we’re a place for everybody. That’s not changing. Our values aren’t changing.

Let’s live out those values. Let’s stand up for what we believe in. Let’s be shoulder-to-shoulder with each other, and remember as always, history teaches us this over and over again, an attack on one community is an attack on all communities.

We need to live that way understanding that and acting on those beliefs.

In Spanish –

[Mayor de Blasio speaks in Spanish]

Commissioner James P. O’Neill, NYPD: Good morning, everyone. Thanks for being here. It’s important that you are. I’m glad we’re all out here today because as you all know I always talk about it’s not just about keeping New Yorkers safe, it’s about making sure all New Yorkers feel safe too. It’s one of the things the Mayor and I made sure to do here.

We explained how the NYPD’s investigations of bias incidents and hate crimes work. We updated community leaders on some specific investigations and we assured them that the hardworking men and women of the New York City Police Department have been working tirelessly on their behalf. And it’s not just the NYPD, it’s our federal partners too as you saw over the weekend.

It’s meetings like this that go to the heart of what the NYPD does in the city everyday. Our neighborhood policing plan which continues to expand across all five boroughs is about all of us – cops and community – sharing the responsibility of public safety.

And this issue is not an issue just for members of the Jewish faith – this attack on members of the Jewish faith is not just an attack on them it’s an attack on everybody in New York City. I’ve been in the police department for almost 35 years now and I don’t think there’s anything we take more serious than hate crimes. That’s why we have one of the best Hate Crime – if not the best – Hate Crime Task Force in the United States.

It can’t just be us though. If you see something out there that doesn’t look right, if you witness somebody committing a hate crime, it’s your duty, it’s your responsibility to make sure you step up and let us know about it.

If you have video in your house or at your place of business, make sure we know about that. We need your help to make sure that they’re properly investigated.

Some crimes – maybe not so much, the ones that come over the internet, the ones that come over the telephone, we have to use technology to do that. But everyday crimes – you got to help us. You got to come forward. It’s your duty and it’s your responsibility.

We need to keep you in the loop and let you know what we’re doing. We need the public’s help, as I said, to identify those who are committing these crimes and then creating this disorder.

I think the meeting this morning was very fruitful. It was productive. It was open. It was honest. And I’m glad we came out here and I look forward to the whole city making sure that we do our best to make sure that this problem goes away, quite frankly.

[Applause]

Mayor: Couple of points before we open up to questions. I want to thank – I mentioned the elected officials who are here – I want to thank all the representatives of other elected officials who had to be in either Albany or Washington. I also want to thank the Deputy Borough President for being here – very appreciate it.

Second – we’re going to take questions on this topic, on the topic of the threat directed to this center and all the threats directed at the Jewish community overall, locally and nationally. We’ll take questions on that in a moment.

One thing I want to ask you, please, to include in your broadcast and in your writing a very clear statement to all New Yorkers – if you believe an act of hate, an attack is in progress, call 9-1-1 immediately. If you have information that you believe might relate to a potential act of bias or hatred that would break the law, call 3-1-1.

So, the most thing is people need to report what they see, give the benefit of the doubt to reporting too much not too little. Pick up that phone.

If it’s an urgent, immediate threat – 9-1-1. If it’s information you want to share with the NYPD – 3-1-1.

With that, we welcome your questions. Anna –

Question: Can you guys update us on the status of the investigation [inaudible] –

Mayor: Chief Boyce –

Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce, NYPD: Sure. Recently, we made an arrest – the FBI had made an arrest of a Juan Thompson that we had a four-case pattern citywide on bomb threats to Jewish institutions. Mr. Thompson – working with the FBI, was arrested in St. Louis. We hold him responsible for the threat at the Jewish Museum which occurred on January 28th and the threat against the Anti-Defamation League which occurred on February 22nd. The two JCC cases are still open. We’re investigating them as we continue now. So, right now it’s an active investigation. There’s still phone calls coming to JCCs around the country, and we’ll work with our federal partners to identify that person – or persons, I should say.

Question: [Inaudible]

Chief Boyce: Do I have any leads – excuse me?

Question: [Inaudible]

 

Chief Boyce: Right now, I’m not going to divulge any leads. It’s a confidential investigation.

Question: I understand there’s been another wave of bomb threats [inaudible] possibly at least two incidents in the city involving the Washington Heights Jewish Center and the East Midwood Jewish Center. Any more information you can give on us on either of those or [inaudible] –

Chief Boyce: From what I understand, we had five this morning. We have an active – at the Anti-Defamation League right now. So, these are coming in at an unprecedented rate and we will handle each one [inaudible] investigations from the hate crimes, and we supplement the Hate Crimes Task Force with other detectives from the Detective Bureau as well.

Mayor: I just wanted to add, Erin, what Chief Boyce just said – unprecedented. We have not seen anything like this in many years – this level of hatred directed against the Jewish community, this many threats.

So, we’re really in an unprecedented moment. I want to emphasize the NYPD has extraordinary resources it’s bringing to bear to address this situation – the same with any other hate crimes. And we will continue to provide the resources necessary to NYPD to ensure that they have full capacity.

I hope this trend abates but we have not seen anything like it in many years. Marcia –

Question: [Inaudible] unprecedented level of threats. But also, I’m wondering if [inaudible] –

Mayor: Marcia, on the first point. Again, in all of the years I’ve been doing this work, and I think my colleagues in the NYPD would say the same thing. We’ve never seen such a period of concentrated threats against the Jewish community. Just the last few weeks are more troubling than anything I’ve seen in many, many years. And I think members of the Jewish community have every reason to be concerned and to be very worried that forces of hatred have been unleashed in our nation, and some people out there feel they have license to act in this fashion. It’s absolutely unacceptable here in New York City and we will use all of our power to address it.

I’ve talked to members of the Jewish community and leaders of the Jewish community over these last weeks. There’s consistent concern. At the same time, there’s a tremendous understanding that the NYPD has a very clear history of defending the community against any threats.

So, one of the things we talked about in the meeting is the way that we’re going to make sure, through our neighborhood policing program in particular, that officers who have major Jewish community locations as part of the sectors they’re covering, are going to pay special attention to those locations, check in with them regularly, show up regularly, including obviously unannounced. We’ll continue to do that.

But whenever we think there’s a more distinct threat, we will do even more. But I think the feedback I’ve received from leaders of the Jewish community is they know the NYPD is in a state of high vigilance right now.

Question: [Inaudible]

Please –

Question: [Inaudible] talk about the fact that Jews had the right to feel some connection to what’s happening [inaudible] –

Mayor: Yes.

Question: Germany [inaudible] can you expand on that –

Mayor: Yeah, absolutely, Marcia.

Question: [Inaudible] people that I’ve spoken to [inaudible] –

Mayor: I think they are feeling something they’ve never felt before for good reason because we haven’t seen anything like this in recent history. I will just start with a personal note because my parents came from the World War II generation, I heard the stories of the war constantly when I was growing up and I felt a real understanding of how people in the 1930s going into the 40s watched with tremendous fear what was happening in Germany, what was happening in Italy, what was happening in Spain. This saw this gathering storm.

And everyone at the time questioned how could these things possibly be happening in civilized democratic nations but in fact they did and those nations became un-democratic and turned into dictatorships. And hatred was unleashed that was unimaginable in countries that were previously regarded as tolerant.

So, anyone who knows that history, not only did we say never again – we’re never going to allow it to happen again, we have to be honest when we see even the beginnings of the signs of something like that happening.

We’re seeing it vividly in Western Europe right now. Xenophobic parties that are explicitly anti-Semitic are polling very well in elections in Western Europe at this very moment.

It’s not an abstraction particularly in France which is the largest Jewish community outside of the United States and Israel. So, people should be very concerned because we see historical patterns that are damning and they’re happening before our very eyes.

And in this country, forces of hate have been unleashed that we have not seen anything like in decades.

So, we don’t take any of it lightly. People have every reason to be concerned. But what did not happen in those times back in history we referred to in the 30s and 40s is – you know the famous phrase, we didn’t think it could happen it here. I think at this moment we’re all in a state of vigilance where we’re not saying anything like that. We’re saying we’re going to go right at any acts of hate. We’re going to crackdown on any movements that purvey hate as a way of showing that we’re not going to let it happen here. Rich –

Question: Mr. Mayor, do you think that [inaudible] President Trump’s most recent executive order on immigration provides an atmosphere in which this kind of hatred can grow, and anti-Semitism can grow?

Mayor: In my opinion, it does not help at all. I know people may have different opinions on this. I’ll just offer mine. We need to get back to being the America that respects everyone and tries to bring all of our communities together.

That’s what New York City does and it works but we have our problems here, Rich, but, you know, you’ve covered this city for a while. Not so long ago the tensions between communities were march sharper and a lot of people here around us in the NYPD and faith leaders – want to single out Michael Miller who’s been doing this work way back to the Crown Heights Riot of 1991 – to bring communities together, to address some of the division, to get people to work together.

One thing that happens now whenever there’s a crisis in New York City – leaders of all faiths get together immediately. Cardinal Dolan has been a major leader in this effort to bring people together of different faiths to instantly address the issue in common.

We think that’s normal now. That wasn’t so normal decades ago.

So, this city’s worked hard to become a place of tolerance and understanding and it works. It’s directly connected to the fact we’ve become safer and we’ve become more prosperous.

I think that’s true of the national discussion as well that when you see any action from Washington that might separate one people from another, one religion from another, one religion from another, make anyone feel they belong here less. That’s not helpful to building a more unified country. Yeah?

Question: When you look back to 2010 and 2012, there are actually more hate crimes than there were in 2016. Would you say that there’s more anti-Semitic incidents in those years of ‘10, ‘11, ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 than there are this year or is this the top in the past decade?

Mayor: I’ll let the Commissioner and the Chief speak to the statistical evidence and I don’t know which figures you’re referring too. I’m just talking about my own experience and what I understand of the statistics. We’re talking about literally a matter of weeks, the concentration of anti-Semitic incidents has been unprecedented.

Question: It’s based on a Politico story that used police statistics [inaudible] –

Commissioner O’Neill: I’ll just give you the stats we have year-to-date so far. We have increase of 113 percent in hate crimes overall. The raw number is 100 versus 47 in 2016. The biggest part of that is anti-Semitic. In 2016 it was 19 incidents and this year it’s 55 incidents. That’s why we’re here today.

Question: [Inaudible]

Commissioner O’Neill: I’d have to go back and take a look at those stats.

Question: [Inaudible]

Commissioner O’Neill: 113 percent overall. Year-to-date. 2016 from the beginning of – from January 1st to now. In 2016, it was 47. This year, it’s 100.

Mayor: That’s all? Or anti-Semitic?

Commissioner O’Neill: That’s all.

Mayor: Do anti-Semitic.

Commissioner O’Neill: Anti-Semitic is 19 in 2016 and 55 in 2017.

Question: [Inaudible]

Commissioner O’Neill: Correct. Correct.

Question: [Inaudible]

Commissioner O’Neill: Marcia, that’s why we’re here today. Azi?

Question: For Councilman Borelli, the Mayor seemed to link President Trump to the atmosphere that he [inaudible]. As a Trump supporter, I wanted to know your thoughts about that.

Councilman Borelli: I think the Mayor and I have different worldviews on a lot of things. And I think if we look back at some of the historical hate crimes over the last several years with the BDS movement, some of the actions of the UN, we may disagree on things. But what it comes down to is that the Mayor is certainly not my enemy or even adversary when it comes to standing against hate here on Staten Island or citywide and especially so when it is the JCC in my community.

Question: Mr. Mayor?

Mayor: Yes.

Question: And question for the Commissioner as well. When you talk about NYPD resources, I know you spoke about community policing, but is there anything additional that people will be able to see – patrol cars perhaps, or foot commands that people can see? And also, we’ve heard from some folks here at this very community center concern about whether security is to lax here? Are you consulting with –

[Applause]

Commissioner O’Neill: Absolutely. That’s part of neighborhood policing. It’s to make sure that the sector cops go into their houses of worship, get to know the people involved, get to know the leadership, and the NCOs also. Above and beyond that, if we see that there’s a real threat, we can utilize CRC, our Critical Response Command, and SRG. So you should see an increased uniformed presence in houses of worship throughout the city.

Question: But to follow, what should a place like the JCC here in Staten Island do maybe to step up security?

Commissioner O’Neill: Well we can work – Inspector Washington is here. She’s the local commander in the 1-2-2. We can work with the local precinct. We can do a survey – a crime-prevention survey for them to make sure that the methods that they use to keep people safe are state of the art.

Mayor: Who hasn’t gone? Willie?

Question: Chief Boyce, you’ve mentioned five incidents this morning. Could you give us more details –

Chief Boyce: I cannot. I gave you – I just got a phone call. We have five incidents in the New York area this morning – in the New York area, from what I was given earlier. I will tell you that right now we have an active investigation in the 17th precinct at the Anti-Defamation League from what I was told this morning. Again, while we were sitting here, while we were preparing for this, this information came in.

Question: Five incidents in the five boroughs?

Chief Boyce: From what I understand, within the five boroughs, yes.

Question: Could the Jewish leaders talk about their sense of vulnerability?

Rabbi Michael Miller: I’m Michael Miller. I’m the CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. We’re all very disturbed by the acts of anti-Semitism that have occurred over these past numbers of weeks. However, we also are heartened by the response of government, and particularly by law enforcement, whether it’s local law enforcement through the outstanding men and women of the New York Police Department or with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. That does not mean, of course, that we as a Jewish community or members of the Jewish community don’t feel vulnerable. Indeed, we do. And our vulnerabilities are accentuated. They’re amplified by these acts of hatred. And we’re also very fortunate that based on what was said in the meeting earlier that the acts of hatred have not been acts against persons. They have been acts against buildings. They have been acts of bomb threats. They’ve been swastikas. And as unsettling as though acts are, thank God we’re not dealing with personal attacks, physical attacks. We rely upon the New York Police Department and law enforcement, and most especially to underscore the New York Police Department, to ensure our safety and security. And I can speak on behalf of myself and my organization that we in fact do feel safe because of the NYPD.

Mayor: [Inaudible]

Question: [Inaudible] today in terms of protection, etcetera? And was it given to you? Were you satisfied?

Mayor: Let me start and then pass to Michael. Let me characterize the meeting in this way – I think the important point of the meeting was that we made very clear to all the leaders of different organizations the state of vigilance the NYPD was in, the fact that immense resources were being provided to the investigations, and that if additional resources were needed, they would be provided instantly, and that we would have our neighborhood policing officers checking in with any locations deemed vulnerable on a regular basis, and that if any threat solidified, we would put very, very extensive resources into defense of locations as we’ve done many times before. I think there’s a broad agreement in the room that that was the right course of action. Grace?

Question: You’ve talked frequently and repeatedly denounced anti-Semitic crimes. I’m wondering if you’d give a speech [inaudible], but that hasn’t happened at the federal level with President Trump. He mentioned it at the top of his speech recently. But beyond that, he’s lashed out a bit when he’s been asked about these incidents. I’m wondering if you could say whether he’s done enough, or the federal government has done enough to announce these [inaudible]. For Councilman Borelli, could you speak to that as well as a Trump supporter?

Mayor: Look, again, I appreciated Councilman Borelli’s comments. This is not a partisan atmosphere or a partisan moment. We are all united in defense of the community. I can say something simple: in a moment like this, everyone should speak up. Again, history tells us that. I think it would be helpful to hear from everyone in Washington a clear condemnation of anti-Semitic acts and anti-Semitic speech. I think that sends a message that people need to hear all over the country – both in terms of reassurance to the community, but also to those who might consider an act of hate – understanding that no one else believes in that. So more is more would be my answer. The more condemnation the better.

Question: [Inaudible]

Mayor: We are unified. Yes, I’ll do two more – oh, three more, I’m sorry. Lisa, go ahead – let me, you first, I’ll come right this way.

Question: In terms of the nature of threats, from what you’ve been able to see from ones here in New York City, are they coming – do they seem to be coming from an organized-type effort or individuals acting independently?

Chief Boyce: Because of the amount of them, Lisa, I would say it appears to be organized right now or one specific person is doing this. When we arrested Juan Thompson, he had made several across the country. So this could be coming from a singular individual or a group thereof. Right now, it’s undetermined. But they are coming in quite frequently right now with specific language that I will not get into on each one.

Mayor: Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. I want to keep it in the order I said. But one point, Michael wanted to add a point to the previous question, the one before.

Rabbi Miller: The question pertaining to what might be done out of Washington. There is a not-for-profit security grant which is allocated by Congress, goes to the Department of Homeland Security, to DHS, and then comes to the states, and a portion of the money which comes to the states is cut off, is assigned to the not-for-profit community. Again, there is money which goes for Homeland Security, and a slice of it goes for not-for-profits. If more of those monies could be made available to ensure that institutions such as the Jewish Community Center here in Staten Island and hundreds of other non-profits, Jewish and non-Jewish, I think the safer and more secure we would feel. So, can Washington do something? The answer is yes. Washington not only can do something, they could so something more. They’re already do something, but they’re not doing enough in order to ensure the safety and security of not-for-profit institutions, so many of them being Jewish not-for-profit institutions. But it would provide funding for all not-for-profits in New York and across the country.

Mayor: Thank you. So I’m going to take these last two questions again. I want to emphasize Chief Boyce and DCPI, I’m sure, will get additional information out in the course of the day as we learn more about the new threats that have come in. Please?

Question: [Inaudible] In reference to what Mr. Miller just said, there is federal grants. There is a deal with New Jersey’s State Senate that is being [inaudible] from non-profits. [Inaudible] Is New York City considering now additional funding for similar [inaudible]?

Mayor: Well, as we talked about in the meeting upstairs, we already, through work we did with the City Council, have a methodology for supporting parochial schools that need additional security support. That’s one thing we are doing now in the city. We also again, through the neighborhood policing program, can provide additional support in a variety of ways, including assessing what needs to be done in terms of a building’s own security, and again, increasing our presence accordingly depending on what’s going on. So I think we’re in a strong position on that front. But I agree, and we also – I want to be very clear – have to be concerned about, generally speaking, our resource situation because of what we expect to have happen in the next federal budget. But that’s all the more reason why I agree with Rabbi Miller’s point that federal government, if they want to help us address this situation, can provide direct security aid for both the NYPD’s efforts and for non-profits. That would be a productive step.

Question: [Inaudible]

Mayor: For parochial schools. That’s the initiative. Obviously, houses of worship are very carefully supported by the NYPD if we think there’s any security threat. But in terms of direct security personnel, that’s about religious schools. Go ahead.

Question: Jimmy Oddo reported last week that the Health Department now thinks there’s been hundreds that may have overdosed on Staten Island –

Mayor: We’re on this topic only. So, we’re going to be talking about that tomorrow. So we’re on this topic only. So then you get the last question.

Question: Can you just elaborate a little bit more on how you found out about these five recent incidents? Did you get a phone call as you were meeting? Did you have to step out? What happened?

Chief Boyce: Sure. We have – my [inaudible] in the Detective Bureau notified me of these incidents, specifically the one in the 17th precinct. So that’s how we get notified up to date each time, and where they are. So right now, I don’t have a lot to tell you on those. I will later on as I double down on that information.

Question: But you were here in this meeting.

Chief Boyce: That’s correct. I was here. And again, cell phone calls come in hot and heavy on these things.

Mayor: Thanks everyone.

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