The NYPD held a briefing about their response to the ongoing Columbia University demonstrations on 116th and Broadway.

On April 22 at 11:30 am, the NYPD held a briefing on 116th Street and Broadway to address the concerns about the ongoing protests. NYPD officials present included Tarik Sheppard, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information; Michael Gerber, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters; Kaz Daughtry, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations; and Fabien Levy, Deputy Mayor for Communications.

To begin, Gerber stressed that since Columbia University is private property, “The nature of police action… is very different.” It is treated “as if it were any private home,” and in the “absence of ongoing crime, [they] cannot just go on campus as [they] see fit.” In this sense, he stated that it is ultimately up to the University to decide on the extent of NYPD presence on campus. 

He noted that last Thursday’s NYPD involvement on campus was an “exceptional case.” They were “asked to campus to take action” on “students who were trespassing” after many years of the University declining their presence. 

In contrast, the streets surrounding the University are public property, and there is currently a “very large police presence” to prevent crime and violence, which includes “harassment, threats, menacing, [and] stalking.” He concluded his remarks by stating that the NYPD is “always going to protect people’s First Amendment rights.”

Media coverage of the NYPD briefing on 116th Street and Broadway on April 22 at 11:30 am.

Deputy Commissioner Sheppard then opened the floor for questions. A reporter asked about whether there have been any threats on campus surrounding Passover. In response, Deputy Commissioner Sheppard claimed that there have not been any threats, with Deputy Commissioner Daughtry advising students to use “safe corridor pathways” created by the NYPD, where officers will be stationed for extra security. 

Another reporter asked about Professor Shai Davidai, who was barred from entering campus earlier in the day because the University “could not assure his safety.” In response, Commissioner Levy stated that “the University makes decisions about who they let on their campus… making their own safety determinations” as a result of campus being private property. He emphasized that these decisions do not include the NYPD. 

It was then asked if Columbia had reached out to the NYPD for any future actions. Commissioner Levy informed the reporter that there have been a “small number” of instances in the past where the University requested NYPD presence, including the October 12 protests. Deputy Commissioner Daughtry added that currently, the only police request from the University has been to “patrol the outside, the outer perimeter of the school.”

Deputy Commissioner Sheppard affirmed that the NYPD is aware of additional protests happening on other college campuses in the city, emphasizing the “line between First Amendment rights and crimes being committed.”

When asked about the challenges faced by NYPD officers, Deputy Commissioner Sheppard highlighted that they are the “most adaptable police department in the country, if not the globe.”  Their biggest concern is that “people remain safe in this area” rather than whether or not the Department has the bandwidth to support the neighborhood. Regarding legal challenges, Deputy Commissioner Gerber said that the NYPD is committed to “determining when something goes from protected speech to unprotected speech,” which may require a lot of nuance and judgment calls. 

Another reporter inquired about the tents set up on West Butler Lawn and a possible NYPD response. Deputy Commissioner Gerber stated that those are University rules, reminding the group that on Thursday they entered campus and made arrests at the request of the Columbia administration. The NYPD then stated that thus far, they have not “received any reports of any physical harm against any student.”

“I don’t think any situation is too difficult for us,” Deputy Commissioner Sheppard claimed.

Photos via Bwog Staff