Whereas town streets and subways are racked with crime, New York’s high cop is taking time for a tropical getaway.
NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell — who has notably made few public appearances in comparison with her predecessors — has traveled to the El San Juan Lodge in Puerto Rico to attend this week’s annual SOMOS political convention, in response to sources and officers.
The five-day beachfront junket, which is held by the distinguished nonprofit every November in San Juan, is seen as one of many fundamental political networking and fundraising occasions for a who’s who of New York State Democrats.
Not less than one observer who noticed the commish on the occasion puzzled why she was spending time rubbing elbows with pols in Puerto Rico as a substitute of specializing in police enterprise within the metropolis.
“How the F is the police commissioner, when town is rampant with crime, going to SOMOS?” stated a political marketing consultant who noticed the commish with an entourage of just below a half-dozen on the resort Wednesday.
“That was her mandate, but you’re sending the police commissioner to suck Pina Coladas. What’s she going to do on SOMOS?” supply added.
“Is she going to catch a seagull on the seaside?”
It was unclear precisely what the once-obscure regulation enforcement official, who was plucked from Nassau County by Mayor Adams final yr for one of many nation’s high policing positions, would do on the convention. Although a police spokesperson stated the commissioner will probably be given an award on the occasion.
A evaluate of the agenda discovered solely a single workshop on the occasion even remotely associated to metropolis regulation enforcement — one on authorized weed in Puerto Rico and “a preview of what it ought to seem like when it rolls out in New York.”
A high-ranking supply stated it was taxpayer funded.
A police spokesperson informed The Put up after publication that the commissioner “was invited to attend the SOMOS convention the place she will probably be offered with the Bridge Builder Award amongst different honorees.
“She is going to meet with elected leaders representing the constituencies all of us serve to additional the NYPD’s public security mission,” the unnamed spokesperson added.
It’s uncommon, however not unparalleled for the NYPD commissioner to attend the beachside escape. Police Commissioner Dermot Shea visited the convention after being sworn in in 2019.
However not like Shea, Sewell is taking the city-funded tropical journey throughout a big uptick in main crime.
General, felonies are up within the Large Apple by almost 30% as of Sunday from the identical time final yr and greater than 30% from 2017, NYPD knowledge reveals.
Whereas the commissioner has seen a dip of virtually 15% in shootings, each different felony crime class is up, aside from murders.
The town subways, nonetheless, have additionally seen a historic improve in violence, with homicides hitting a complete of 9, the best ranges because the mid-Nineteen Nineties.
Then-Mayor Invoice de Blasio, left, with then Mayor-elect Eric Adams on the 2021 SOMOS convention.
Gov Hochul, heart, and Mayor Adams chat on the annual SOMOS convention
These on the 2021 SOMOS convention participated in an occasion known as the “Bronx Dems Seaside Exercise.”
Gov. Hochul visited the San Juan convention final yr.
US Sen. Chuck Schumer throughout the 2021 SOMOS convention.
It was unclear what was on the highest cop’s itinerary or how a lot the warm-weather jaunt for the commissioner and police element would value the taxpayers.
The NYPD refused to supply her schedule or say how lengthy she was staying.
The worth tag for flights and 4 nights on the resort for the group ought to are available in at at the very least $7,500, The Put up estimated with rooms on the resort averaging $525 per night time after taxes and flights right down to Puerto Rico working between $500 and $600.
That greenback quantity was additionally earlier than another bills, similar to transportation, meals and drinks.
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