Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley accepted an endorsement for congress from the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association on May 17. To her right is Patrick Lynch, president of the association. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Crowley’s campaign.
Good news for Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley turned into an awkward moment at a press conference when the congressional candidate was asked about the NYPD’s use of the controversial stop-and-frisk practice.
On May 17, Crowley held a press conference announcing her endorsement from the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) for the 6th Congressional District, but when a reporter asked if she supports stop and frisk, she stumbled over an answer, and received some coaching from the head of the PBA.
When a reporter asked Crowley if she supports the policy, she replied, “The least we could do is have some gratitude and be grateful for the work that they do.”
The reporter pressed on, asking Crowley to answer the original question: “So you do or don’t support it as a policy?”
That’s when Patrick Lynch, the PBA president, leaned in and whispered to Crowley.
New York 1’s camera and microphone recorded him saying “Support it as a tool.”
After a pause, Crowley asked the reporter to restate the question and ultimately answered, “I believe our police officers stop when they suspect that there is somebody out there that is up to no good, so to say.”
Crowley’s spokesman, Eric Yun, later clarified her stance.
“Elizabeth Crowley has always supported the thoughtful use of stop and frisk to fight crime,” he said. “She believes the rising use of stop and frisk is an unfortunate consequence of understaffing at the NYPD. With more cops on the beat, we could reduce the use of stop and frisk.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
