City Council leaders recently confronted the NYPD regarding concerning social media posts made by top officials and the unplanned $168 million in overtime costs incurred while policing anti-Israel protests and migrant shelters. Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, along with the Legal Aid Society, raised red flags about the potential inaccuracies and incitement of violence in the posts, calling the behavior dangerous, unethical, and unprofessional. Adams emphasized the importance of the department’s mission to preserve peace, protect the people, and reduce fear, pointing out the contradictory nature of the posts to these goals.
One of the controversial posts in question was made by NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell, who criticized Queens Councilwoman Tiffany Caban’s online remarks as “garbage.” Adams expressed concern over the potentially threatening nature of Chell’s response and its implications for democracy. The council noted that the NYPD has over 250 social media accounts controlled by department higher-ups, intended for informing the public rather than exacerbating tensions with elected officials. Chell and other brass have utilized social media as a tool to address perceived anti-cop policies, such as the burdensome paperwork associated with the “How Many Stops” initiative.
Following a heated exchange at a council budget hearing, Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters Michael Gerber reiterated the importance of allowing the Department of Investigation probe into the posts to unfold and assured the department’s full cooperation with the investigation. Adams pressed Gerber on the appropriateness of Chell’s response to Caban, to which Gerber maintained that he could not comment as he would be responsible for overseeing any disciplinary actions resulting from the investigation. Adams also brought attention to the NYPD’s significant overtime costs, which were well over budget and raised concerns about agency and fiscal management.
According to Council Speaker Adams, as of March, the NYPD had already spent approximately $788 million in overtime during the 2024 fiscal year, exceeding the budget by nearly $271 million. Police Commissioner Edward Caban attributed the majority of the $160 million in additional overtime expenses to various unforeseen circumstances, including security for migrant shelters, enhanced translation services, and the deployment of resources for protests. Caban explained that these activities were unprecedented and could not have been planned for in advance, resulting in spending outside of the adopted financial plan baseline.
The heated proceedings between City Council leaders and the NYPD underscored concerns over the department’s social media behavior, overtime costs, and fiscal management. The council emphasized the importance of upholding professionalism and ethical standards, particularly in sensitive areas such as preserving peace and public safety. While the NYPD faced scrutiny over the appropriateness of certain social media posts, officials also defended their actions as necessary responses to perceived challenges and threats to law enforcement operations. Moving forward, the department will continue to cooperate with the Department of Investigation’s probe and address the concerns raised by City Council leaders regarding overtime spending and budget management.
