Some jailbirds are taking “advantage” of the coronavirus pandemic by seeking early release, NYPD’s top cop warned Wednesday.
More than 1,500 inmates were released from prison as of Friday and hundreds more are on their way out.
“Like any good thing, I think people are taking advantage of the situation,” Commissioner Dermot Shea said on Fox 5 “Good Day New York.” “We still need to keep violent criminals in jail.”
Shea mentioned 28-year-old Christoper Ransom, the man charged with the murder of slain officer Brian Simonsen, whose defense attorneys asked for early release Tuesday in Queens Criminal Court due to “heightened health risks” from coronavirus.
“There has to be a whole equation here that we look at public safety, we look at the offense committed, we look at the individual asking for release,” Shea said. “Advocate groups are now asking for everyone to be released.”
“I support taking a look at the entire equation. We have to remain humane. Who do we have that has minimal impacts,” he added.
“We’ve had some really scary circumstances in the last week,” Shea said, citing a man who was cut free despite being locked up for setting fire to his girlfriend’s apartment door, and who threatened the woman once out.
“There are people that believe no one should be in jail. And some of those very same people that believe that and stated that six months ago or a year ago are now using the compassionate release to advocate for everyone getting out of jail,” Shea said. “I think everyone has to be honest about what’s going on.”