NYC Mayor Adams issues warning to new anti-gun police unit to operate legally or lose their jobs

The new Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, has issued a strongly-worded warning to all the members of his new NYPD anti-gun task force, telling the officers in the unit they must operate within the confines of the law, or they will not work for the NYPD.

“If you don’t follow the law, you’re not going to serve in my police department,” Adams said in a Sunday interview with WBLS107.5FM. Adams made the statement amid criticism that his newly-instated anti-gun, largely plainclothes police unit will mirror the controversial plainclothes NYPD units of the past.

Former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio disbanded the unit in 2020 as racial tensions heightened in the wake of a series of US police killings of unarmed Black people.

“We know what was wrong with the unit. It was an abusive unit. It targeted and profiled,” Adams said, reiterating his promise that the new unit will not repeat the mistakes of past NYPD task forces.

He also pointed out the measures the new task force will employ to ensure fair policing, including modified uniforms so officers are still identifiable even when not in full uniform, officer-worn body cameras, and a focus on criminals and not everyday people on the street. 

“This anti-gun unit is going to use precision policing. We know the trigger pullers in the city. We want to be focusing on them,” the Mayor said. He added, “When you look at my life’s work, it’s to make sure we have justice and safety,” he said. “We’ve only focused on justice — what about safety?”