NEW YORK (AP) – The New York City police are conducting an investigation after officers were bombarded with snowballs while attending a large snowball fight at Washington Square Park in Manhattan. A video circulating online portrays the chaotic scene, showing two uniformed officers walking along a park walkway on Monday as they were pelted by snowballs from various directions, resulting in the officers being covered in snow.
As tensions escalated, the visibly frustrated officers responded by forcefully pushing at least two individuals to the ground, even as snowballs continued to rain down around them. A particularly noteworthy moment captured on video shows a person running up behind one of the officers and packing snow onto his head. Towards the end of the footage, one officer can be seen rubbing his eye, suggesting a strong reaction to the snowball barrage.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the New York Police Department confirmed that several officers were struck in the face by snowballs. They added that these officers were "removed by EMS in stable condition" to a hospital located nearby, although they did not provide further details regarding their injuries.
Jessica Tisch, the police commissioner of New York City, condemned the behavior as "disgraceful" and "criminal," stressing that the department is taking the matter seriously and is currently investigating the incident. The police have released images of two individuals they are looking for, seeking assistance from the public to identify them.
Political figures across the city reacted swiftly to the event, with critics of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani seizing the situation to argue that respect for law enforcement has diminished under his administration. Mamdani faced scrutiny during his campaign for prior criticisms of the police department made in 2020. Interestingly, he has since retracted those remarks.
On his social media platform X, Mamdani expressed his support for the officers, stating, "Officers, like all city workers, have been out in a historic blizzard, keeping New Yorkers safe and cars moving. Treat them with respect. If anyone’s catching a snowball, it’s me." This statement reflects his acknowledgment of the challenging circumstances faced by the police during the blizzard.
However, at a subsequent news conference, when a reporter inquired about the possibility of criminal charges arising from the incident, Mamdani appeared to downplay the severity, commenting, "From the videos that I’ve seen, it looks like a snowball fight." His comment drew mixed reactions.
Patrick Hendry, the president of the Police Benevolent Association, responded sharply to Mamdani’s remarks, describing them as a "complete failure of leadership." Hendry asserted, "This was not just a ‘snowball fight.’ This was an assault," criticizing the mayor for disregarding the injuries sustained by the officers and sending a troubling message to the police force serving the city.
This event has sparked ongoing discussions about the relationship between the police and the community, particularly in the context of recent events that have heightened tensions in urban areas. The response from city leadership and the public's perception of law enforcement continue to be hot-button issues in New York City.
