NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch on Sunday touted her officers’ hard work to keep the peace as the Knicks’ NBA championship win sparked celebrations that included some fans marring the party with violence.
The limited but disgraceful post-game chaos saw 63 arrests, one shooting and four stabbings — with 10 cops also injured.
Tisch said department officers worked through a “long and grueling night” as wild victory parties erupted across New York City and included violent incidents where a Spurs fan was attacked and a school bus set ablaze near Time Square.
“As celebrations unfolded across the city, you responded wherever you were needed, helping to maintain order, keep people safe, and, to the extent possible, ensure celebrations remained celebratory and not violent,” Tisch wrote in a letter to NYPD officers. “You did that bravely.
“Whether you were on a post outside Madison Square Garden, assigned to anti-looting details on commercial corridors across the five boroughs, answering radio runs, part of the [Strategic Response Group] disorder-control response, or working any of the countless assignments required over the past several weeks, you managed to meet the challenges that came with one of the most closely watched periods this city has seen in years,” the commissioner said.
Tisch noted that many officers canceled days off to help police the event, while some cops also endured shifts of more than 12 hours to help with Sunday’s Puerto Rican Day Parade and FiFA watch parties.
The commissioner said the violent episodes overnight could have been much worse if it wasn’t for the officers’ diligence.
At least 15 suspects were hit with criminal charges — with a 17-year-old boy recovering after being shot in the foot and four others stabbed — during the mayhem, the NYPD said.
With the immediate revelries out of the way, Tisch said the NYPD was now preparing for Thursday’s championship parade.
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