New York City Police Department

Earlier today, members of New York-Task Force 1, an urban search and rescue team composed of Emergency Service Unit, FDNY, and NYC Emergency Management personnel, were activated by FEMA to respond to Hurricane Helene. With only hours notice, these heroes left the comfort of their homes to support our neighbors as they brace for this natural disaster.

Gun-Toting Man Evades Subway Fare, Lands in Jail By P.O. Bryan Rozanski Two rookie NYPD officers stopped a 19-year-old man for not paying the fare at a Brooklyn subway station this week and discovered that he was stealthily carrying an illegal, loaded firearm into the vast transit system. Melissa Forde and Maurice Evans, Transit District 32 police officers who have both worked for less than a year patrolling the nation’s largest and busiest subway network, were standing inside the mezzanine entrance of the Cortelyou Road station when they saw the man avoid paying by manipulating and squeezing past the turnstile at about 10:50 a.m. on Tuesday. The not-so-elusive fare evader immediately walked toward the platform — and directly at the uniformed cops. He was carrying a small, black plastic bag in his left hand, which, when the officers stopped him, he slightly lowered and positioned behind his leg, Forde recalled. “I felt like he was trying to hide something,” Forde said. “So I told him to put his arms down and to his sides, so I could see both of his hands.” With Evans keeping a sharp eye on the man, Forde checked the man’s identity using her NYPD-issued smartphone. It was quickly determined that he was on a list of transit recidivists — people who had previously committed offenses within the subway system. As such, Forde and Evans could not just eject him from the system or write him a summons for theft of services; he had to be arrested. As Evans handcuffed the man, who lives about a dozen blocks from the subway stop, Forde took possession of the small bag and immediately suspected it might contain a potentially dangerous weapon. “I just had a gut feeling,” she said. “It's a thin bag, but I could tell with my hands that it was a heavy and solid object.” Back at the NYPD transit command, the officers thoroughly searched the man and his property, and found him to have $151 in cash in his pocket — more than enough for the $2.90 subway fare. Meanwhile, Forde’s instinct proved correct: In the bag, hidden beneath a pair of athletic shorts, was a 9 mm handgun. The semiautomatic Smith & Wesson pistol was loaded with three rounds of ammunition. Police charged the Flatbush, Brooklyn man with criminal possession of a weapon and theft of services. At his arraignment in Kings County Criminal Court on Wednesday, he was held on bail pending his next court appearance. Through Sept. 22, officers in Transit District 32 have arrested 612 people for fare evasion, a tally that is 128 percent higher than the 268 people arrested during the same period last year. Officers also wrote nearly 5,000 theft-of-services summonses this year, a 28 percent increase over last year. Systemwide throughout New York City, subway fare-evasion arrests have jumped nearly 112 percent, and summonses are up by more than 9 percent.

On October 17, 1992, 52-year-old Margaret Tobar was found bound, beaten, and strangled in her apartment located at 439 Beach 22nd Street. For 32 years, detectives from the Cold Case Squad has been working relentlessly to bring justice for the family. If you have any information on this case, please call or DM Crimestoppers at 800-577-TIPS.

Today, Interim Police Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon was officially sworn in to lead an NYPD focused on enhancing community engagement and furthering its public safety mission. After 50 years spanning multiple levels of law enforcement, Commissioner Donlon is committed to improving the quality of life of every New Yorker in every community. Please join us in welcoming Interim Police Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon as he assumes this significant role.

The US Open is an annual event that attracts millions to Queens. For the next two weeks, your NYPD officers will be strategically placed, protecting the tennis tournament and ensuring the safety of fans and players. Watch Marc Santia as he highlights the security measures that will be in place to keep everyone safe.

Recently, 115 Precinct officers didn't hesitate when a fire broke out - they rushed in to save lives and put out the flames. Watch their heroic story on abc7NY.

When a bystander alerted @NYPD115Pct officers of a fire in a six-story residential building, their instincts immediately kicked in. Without regards to their personal safety, they ran towards the danger to help evacuate the residents and extinguish the fire. Watch the dramatic rescue body-worn camera footage.

Last week, three heroic officers sprang into action after a distraught young man threatened to jump off the Washington Bridge. Watch the body-worn camera footage of the successful rescue. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, remember that help is available and there are options. Click here for more information. https://lnkd.in/ePtqVjGw

In a timeless tradition in NYC, our Harbor Unit escorted service men and women to help kick off Fleet Week 2024 by welcoming the annual Parade of Ships as it entered NY Harbor. To those who serve our country, thank you for your service & Happy Fleet Week NYC!