Press Releases

LATEST CHARGES AGAINST NY POLICE OFFICERS FOR GUN SMUGGLING IS TROUBLING AT A TIME WHEN NYPD IS ASKING FOR COMMUNITY SUPPORT & ACTIVISM TO COUNTER GUN-VIOLENCE SAYS NAN ED TAMIKA D. MALLORY—

NEW YORK, NY (October 25, 2011) Tamika D. Mallory, National Executive Director for National Action Network, appeared on NY1’s “Inside City Hall” with Errol Louis Tuesday night to discuss community anger over the latest charges against NYPD officers for gun smuggling. According to Mallory: “when the department is asking for community help in turning in offenders, it makes it very hard to tell the community to talk to the cops when the cop are involved in illegal activity. There must be immediate action taken. We don’t believe that the officers caught are the only ones involved.”

It was reported today that eight New York City policemen were charged with helping run a gun-smuggling ring in a city where Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading a national campaign against illegal guns.

According to Reuters: The District Attorney’s Office said the men “exploited their experience and credentials to assist in a variety of schemes involving the illegal interstate transportation of goods,” which included guns, slot machines, cigarettes and counterfeit goods.

“The defendants transported 20 firearms, including three M-16 rifles, one shotgun and 16 handguns, the majority of which had obliterated or altered serial numbers, across state lines from New Jersey to New York,” according to the complaint.

According to Mallory: “At a time when the NYPD is defending the stopping and frisking of innocent Black and Brown New Yorkers this is an atrocity can can’t be defended. The NYPD needs to police their own just as we need to take responsibility for our communities.”