#Police Commissioner Dermot Shea blames ‘perfect storm’ for increase in shootings

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea on Monday blamed the city’s recent wave of gun violence on a “perfect storm” amid bail reforms that went into effect earlier this year, and the crippled court system during the coronavirus crisis.

The top cop’s comments come as the number of people shot in the city last week more than tripled compared to the same period in 2019 — from 33 victims in 26 incidents to 101 victims in 74 incidents, according to police sources.

Meanwhile, 18 people were murdered in the city last week — six more than during the same period last year.

“We have incredibly low incarceration rates in this city, but when you take basically half the population of Rikers Island and put it onto the streets and then wonder what’s going on, it’s basically dumbfounding to me,” Shea said in a 1010 WINS interview. “And now it’s compounded by COVID where you have a situation where the courts have literally shut down, so it is unfortunately a perfect storm.”

Shea said the focus must be on keeping those responsible for the gun violence behind bars.

“In my professional opinion, people focus on the wrong thing here,” he said in a separate interview with NY1. “Of course you can’t shoot somebody without a gun. But it’s the people. And there are bad people who do bad things and we need to do everything we can to take them off the streets of New York City to keep New Yorkers safe.”

In two Sunday evening tweets, top NYPD officials decried the shooting spike in their communities and citywide.

While Shea said he didn’t sign off on those messages, he understands the frustration that provoked them.

“Would I have sent those messages out? No, I probably wouldn’t have,” he said on 1010 WINS. “But I can tell you that they’re frustrated because of what has gone into turning this city around and to see it being chipped away.”

Cops need adequate support and resources, as well as laws that help the police, in order to stem the surge, Shea said.

As he did last week, he blasted new city legislation that bans officers from sitting, kneeling or standing on a suspect’s chest and back during an arrest.

“Police officers should not have to worry more about getting arrested than the person with the gun that they’re rolling around on the street with,” he said.

Sunday alone, there were 30 shooting incidents citywide with 48 victims — nine of whom were killed, according to police sources.

That includes at least seven people who were shot, five fatally, in a span of about three hours Sunday night in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island.

“There’s too many innocent people getting harmed in the inner city,” Shea said on NY1. “I said a couple weeks ago … who’s getting affected right now? It’s people of color. We have to do a better job of keeping people safe in this city. And when I say we, I’m talking about elected officials, I’m talking about community, I’m talking about police, people of faith coming together.”