Wednesday night at around 9:45pm just as Maariv ended and as people were making their way to the Ohel, Hatzalah received a call for a medical emergency and members responded immediately. One of the members responding, making his was up Kingston Ave. to retrieve the ambulance in front of 770 to transport the patient to the hospital, when police began perusing the Hatzalah Member.
Apparently the problem was the fact that he was driving with Lights & Sirens and unknown to the cops was that he was the fact that he was a member of Hatzalah. But when he produced proper identification, the officers decided that it was not enough, and continued to hold him back from getting into the ambulance.
Police Delays Hatzalah Response By Over 10 Minutes
Wednesday night at around 9:45pm just as Maariv ended and as people were making their way to the Ohel, Hatzalah received a call for a medical emergency and members responded immediately. One of the members responding, making his was up Kingston Ave. to retrieve the ambulance in front of 770 to transport the patient to the hospital, when police began perusing the Hatzalah Member.
Apparently the problem was the fact that he was driving with Lights & Sirens and unknown to the cops was that he was the fact that he was a member of Hatzalah. But when he produced proper identification, the officers decided that it was not enough, and continued to hold him back from getting into the ambulance.
A curious crowed began gathering trying to figure out why Police was holding a Hatzalah Member back from responding. The officers, apparently feeling threatened by the crowed, called for backup and 7 additional cars responded.
The most outrageous part of this incident is, even after the officers realized they were wrong, they continued to ‘harass’ the Hatzalah member, questioning him, as to why he was using Red Flashing Lights [which Hatzalah is authorized to use], as well as something to do with his inspection on his car.
This isn’t the first time Police harassed Hatzalah and even Shomrim on their way to calls and on calls, the latest incident was a few Shabbosim ago when there was an emergency and one of the Hatzalah members parked his car facing the wrong direction of traffic and had clear identification in his window, yet the officer still saw the need to issue a ticket to the car.
When will this stop? Do we deserve this persecution? First the double parking incident and now this? How about when cars triple park on Empire between New York and Nostrand? How about on President and Brooklyn at 2:30pm every School Day? “Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect”? Yeah Right!
DW
first I think we should get in touch with the media, second we, as a community should take up a law suite, third the patient should personally sue. fourth when someone in the coomunity tried to do a protest in front of the police station a few months ago our "esteemed vaad hakol" did its best to put a kabash on it so there was no turn out. (can any one hear my "their morons"in that statement?) we should do a protest, we should show them we wont tolerate this any more
backer
but don’t forget everyone is too bust with crap in this community rabonim rubashkin sandhouse hertzog and the part of the community are busy ratting on there next door neighbors so what do you want the police they think ware all freaks this is what we are now this community cant stand when someone does well and they love when someone is doing bad.
I cant wait for a new community to open for young lubavitchers to move with there families and don’t have to deal with this
gut shabbos
Furious & Frustrated
The blatant anti-semitism @ 71st precinct is getting worse. As usual, our "leaders" don’t do anything, probably b/c they’re too involved in Machloykes.
We must DEMAND respect. The Blacks don’t have a problem demonstrating!!
Can we send some normal, intelligent, respected pple to see this wimp of a precinct boss? How about seeing the commissioner? He used to be boss here, didn’t he???
We can’t ask Rubashkin, he would be laughed out of there. Chanina can’t string a sentence together. Batman & Robin (Lang & Plotkin) are a joke. How can we get these idiots to resign? Surely by now they must know how much we despise them?
FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, ISN’T THERE ONE NORMAL, INTELLIGENT, ARTICULATE (look it up, folks!) PERSON IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD WHO CAN REPRESENT US??
One other idea: meet w/ Williamsburg Askanim & see how they get what they want. They don’t speak English "good", but no one messes with them or their community!
AND GET RID OF VEGA…he’s pathetic! Get the media involved.
Thanks to Webby, we have enough documentation, pictures, & most importantly, reader opinions, to demand changes.
LET’S DO IT NOW, before G-d forbid, more tragedies occur.
Worried girl in CH
disgraceful! how can they do that, they can totally be sued! holding up a hatzallah from saving people gosh, that is totally overboard!
Crown Heights Resident
Sick Cops! We need to protest! This will never end unless we do something about this. we need to get names and take action!
I think I will start a blog dedicated to finding ch police harrassment and posting names and pictures. They asked for it!
lizman
every sunday and evry day people should call 311 and complain about the goyim double parking near their schools and churches and save the complaint bumbers. then call back in 2 hours and ask what was done with your number they will usualy tell you oh its a school aor achurch and the police gave them courtsy.
if we save enough of these we can sue the city or prove to them that treat us way worse
Dovid
What chutzpah!
Putting thousands of peoples life in danger.
The police department should be held accountable and be forced to make a public apology, i.e. a letter to every resident of C.H. asking to be forgiven!
This is anti-Semitism, discrimination and endangering the lives of an entire community.
Long live Hatzalah and the entire C.H. Jewish community!!!!!
chani
it will stop when we really can come togther in love for one another
Enough is Enough
Horrific abuse of Power shown by the pigs @ the 71st pct.
Come on Crown Heights Lets set a time & march down to the Pct. Lets do a sitdown protest until things are resloved. How many time does this need to happen.
Besides all the parking tickets that they give to Hatzolah members. This is the third major situation in a month that this site has posted.
1. By OT on Troy Ave
2. That child run over on Empire
3. This incident.
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR. WHERE ARE THE COMMUNITY LEADERS? UNITE FOR ONCE AND OPEN YOUR MOUTHS.
ben ben
this is an out rage they are out to get us pepole its time
Nochum
Webbie: Who is the cop that did this? Do you have a name or photo? Did any of the back-up cops suggest a reasonable course of action? What if the person who contacted Hatzalah had died – would the cop have been held responsible?
——————————————–
You have now archived most of these types of incidents for many months. You could probably create a database which captures incidents involving unprofessional cops. (How did the straphangers campaign become successful? I think they collected so much data about the subways that news agencies were forced to report their findings.) Anyway, maybe you can create a link where people could enter information about encounters with unprofessional cops. They could give a name; if possible an id number, and you might be able to match it with a photo. Anyway when a particular cop reaches a set minimum (say, 10 incidents.. or 5, whatever) the information gets taken dirctly to the Post, Daily News, even the Jewish Press.
My point is, you have most of the data in your reports already. It only has to be compiled into a meaningful report.
———————————————
Thank you for your reporting
Concerned
Are there numbers that you can post (repost) that community members can call to complain about such police misconduct?
Itzik_s
Were the names of the "officers" recorded? This is ridiculous. Has anyone taken this up with the 71st? Maybe a lawsuit on behalf of the person who needed Hatzoloh will make them wake up.
SYR
this is carzy why are they doing this?
Sue them
We must sue the police. Then they will stop the harassment. This must be done before cs”v a family in ch will have to sue the police because someone died whilst the police were harassing the hazalah on the way to answering a call.
A law suite is the only thing the city understands
NYS EMT
This is Crazy.Why doesn’t someone speak to the mayors office?Are The Police and City waiting for someone to be seriously injured due to the delay and possibly sue them.
ariyeh Leib Segall
Make sure that Rabbi Edgar Gluck, Marty Markowitz, and
the City Council memvers are pestered about this nonsense…
That is the only way that something is going to be done about it…
Our "local leaders are powerless"…
Especially because they sepnd so much time on petty
stuff.. nobody pays attention to them…
BigBen
This is very disturbing. The cops look at us with disdain,
and treat us like criminals.
Webby, please report to the public the recent victory we had at the election of new Board Members for the 71st Precinct Community Relations Board.
I sense your frustration in this article. Please attend the monthly Police meetings that occur every 3rd Thursday of the month. You can voice your opinion directly to C.O. Frank Vega. If you can make it to three meetings you will be eligible to vote in the next election. Don’t just sit there, do something. Thank you.
moved away
I think moving away from CH is the only answer. It’s what I did and I’m a lot happier!
Hatzalah and Shomrim – you guys are excellent and keep up the wonderful work!
Troubled
What going on!!
I’ve noticed recently that the police are starting up with the us Jews, pulling us over for the most petty of things. Clearly an act of Anti-Semitism.
And its got to Stop NOW!!!
This should be on the top of the agenda of the Vaad Hakohol, they have to make sure that we don’t get discriminated against by the police
I hope these officers that pull over the Hatzolah member ON THE WAY TO AN EMERGANCY get fired from the NYPD, they don’t belong in force
Its Sad
when the police see that there is no achdus amongst our own thats what happens.
This would never ever happen in flatbush borough park or williamsburg
TIME TO DEMOSTRATE!
This calls for a MASSIVE demonstration.
Totally irresponsible!!!
I HOPE THAT THIS MAKES THE MEDIA
BrookAve
As long as I can get a good whitefish at Kol Tuv market and dream about tvilah in the holy Boymelgreen Mikva I am at peace. The rest is commentary.
Local legal eagle
Rubashkin and CH Webby and others got a record turnout crowd to attend the 71 Precinct council meetings and elect a pro-Jewish board. But when Vega asks for community comments, there are 40 Yidden there and nobody says a word!
We should inundate City Council Members Letitia James and Yvette Clarke with phone calls. To her credit, James has already complained to the NYPD, but she is not the power house as is Markowitz Bloomberg.
to moved away
Running and hiding like a coward never solved any problems
BrookAve
How can you judge? That is not a Jewish thing to do…source document, the Torah. And a coward? Look up coward in webster’s. Is moving away for a more affordable home, better parnasa and school and social life being a coward. YOU dont know the situation, nor should you judge! Clean up the hood, and perhaps the "coward" will return some day. And fix that squeeky door at the ice cream store. It is annoying.
still furious
Well, we all seem to be in agreement:
1. DEMONSTRATE!!!
2. CHJCC…RESIGN…NOW!!
3. Go to media…does anyone out there have contacts?
To Moved Away…not everyone can/wants to do that. So does that mean those of us who stay have to suffer b/c of the incompetence/stupidity/evil of others?
We stay for many reasons. However, we don’t have to be victims.
Name the time & place…I’ll be there!!
Mad on Union Street
Every time Chanina Sperlin goes to see "his dear, good friend" Commissioner Kelly things seem to get worse around here. Maybe there is an inverse here, get rid of Chanina and the police will harass less.
What about going to Sheya Hecht? Ask for meetings with the political city council. state assembly people. The State senator is running for Congress, so all he wants is votes.
Moshe R. may not get police attention, although they like him, but Tzvi Lang can represent the community.
Keep Nash away. He is so destructive he says it is likely to snow when it’s sunny and 80. He’s as bad as Sperlin.
AnashSupporter
The one that moved away – good riddance – we don’t neeed you nor your annoying new CH neighborhood dribble. It ain’t better any where else – take your head outta the sand and you’ll see there are "other " issues in suburbs and all…..
re hatzoloh – perhaps the top brass in CH Hatz should be addressing this issue. Not sure if they are but they are:
Abe Bistritsky CH6
Yossi Simpson CH18
Dr Rosen CH75
those are the coordinators that matter (and a model h neighborhood indeed) and that put CH Hatzoloh back on the map after the CH fiasco a few years ago where many went against Central. WOndering aloud if they even know what’s going on – I doubt any of em read blogs lol ;)
shmidy
In the incident with the 4 year old child on Empire Blvd , the fact that a police officer delayed the ambulance from going to the hospital and the child has (lo’ oleinu) neurological damage, a complaint should be filed by the family and Hatzolah to the NY State board of health and the NYC dept of child safety ,personally, against the officers involved and the police brass for endangering the welfare and LIFE of a minor.
Secondly being that the police Dept (IN GENARAL NOT JUST THE 71st pct.) want Hatzolah to respond to situations when a police officer is involved , Hatzolah central should tell the police that being the police interferes with Hatzolah calls they cant respond to police emergencies.
Also a complaint should be filed with NYC and NYS emergency, disaster office that police are interfering with first responder units
Fed up
what chutzpa, how dare they, these cops to stop an hatzola man from saving another person, this is even greater than anti-smitic. this is just crazy
ariyeh Leib Segall
We need to videotape these situations and then give copies to the news channels…These media outlets… jump at the chance to show up the city agencies .. especially in these
life threatening situations…
yossy
its time for us the people to disengage from the so called leaders and start running the show are self onece we do that we can worry about these sick cops
at least this web site gives us a voice
just another resident
I saw Hatzalah being used by the 71st Pre. at least once- that should be stopped. Of course there should be suing and the notification to the media…BUT WHO WILL DO IT?!? (don’t ask why I won’t)
BORUCH BEN TZVI HAKOHAINE HOFFINGER
"I PLEDGE ALLEGAINCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER G-D, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL".
SO NYPD, ETC. FULFILL IT!
LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT (I.E. IF YOU DON’T IMPROVE IT – LOVE MEANS IMPROVING)
HEELS OF MOSCHIACH – WEEPING TIME
Bubby
To shmidy
Parents should sue…this way, the child can get expert help, which as we all know, costs $$$$.
A guten Shabbos. Keep safe, everyone.
confused???
Since when is any VOLUNTEER ambulance or ‘shomrim ‘ allowed to have a RED LIGHT. the law is GREEN LIGHTS.
Did the hatzolah member have licence plates to reflect that he is a volunteer emt, as the law requires? Did this web site only month ago complain about NYPD driving the wrong way down union st ? But if hatzolah does it, its fine?
BUT I DO AGREE HATZOLAH AND SHOMRIM ARE GREAT KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
to anash suporter
the old hvac coordinators had amazing response time
Things like this and the empire blvd incedent never happend and if a member was pulled over by PD it was dealt with so quickly it was never a problem. And if you know so much, why cant you get the coordinators names right.
Anonymous
Confused,
The VTL codes were amended for Hatzalah to legally use Red Lights and Sirens. Regarding the License plate I am not sure as to the laws but I think it’s only right that Hatzalah members should have EMT or VAS plates.
I WAS THERE!!!!!!
I was there. The cops did nothing wrong. The Hatzalah member refused to pull over for them, didn’t have the proper volunteer ambulance plates, and drove the wrong way in front of 770. The cops were very respectful and once they figured out who he was they quickly gave him a warning. No ticket. No harassment. The VTL codes were never amended for Hatzalah…if anyone believes they were quote the section.
HVAC EMT
Hatzolah cars are classified under NYS VTL as an "emergency ambulance service vehicle",since they transport medical equipment and personnel to the scene of an emergency. Under NYS VTL sec. 115c an "emergency ambulance service vehicle may afffix RED lights AND SIRENS".This gives us the right to exersize the right of way (and to "pass red lights after slowing down as necc. for safe operation")while responding to an emergency.This is different from a "vehicle owned by a member of a volunteer ambulance service" who may affix only a green light and may not use a siren or disobey traffic regulations.All Hatzolah vehicles now have the NYS Dept of Health sticker in the rigth side of the windshield.
HVAC EMT
Here is the link you requested. Hope this clarifies what i wrote earlier
http://www.health.state.ny….
Wake up!!!
"Its Sad wrote:
When the police see that there is no achdus amongst our own that’s what happens.
This would never ever happen in Flatbush Borough Park or Williamsburg"
First of all it’s nobody’s business if we get along or not,
They have a job to do and they most do it (with all it’s Laws & Regulations).
[If I see someone in trouble it’s not my business to start looking in to his Shalom Bayis or other problems etc…]
This would never happen in Flatbush, Borough Park and Williamsburg B/C they took action to make sure it does not happen!
And to:
I WAS THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It sounds like you have some beef (something personal agents) perhaps with someone in Hatzalah.
I was not there, but I heard an account of what happened from a Hatzalah member that was there, if I can and will trust him with my life (Hashem should spear use all, there should never be a time) I will trust his story.
I don’t see a reason why he should lye.
Besides that this is not the first time as quoted above by others.
Don-t Live in CH
The VTL codes were not ammended, but the Attorney General released a legal opinion granting member’s cars Emergency Response Vehicles, thereby allowing them to use (red) lights and sirens.
As for driving the wrong way on streets, this should only be allowed in life saving situations, something the PD is rarely involved in.
Bochur
Why doesn’t anyone file a suit vs the 71st Precinct; sue them for discrimination and racism!
not -confused- anymore
webby i do belive hvac should have vas/emt plates. my question was, did the car in question have them?
have a great summer!!!!! be safe!!!!
i am not in ch now but every time i read any thing like this i feel like coming straight back and starting somthing myself.
comeon somone in ch can do this prove yourself
p.s. always all 911 they always are willing to help (bs)
Teen in CH.
Do you know that the Police actually sit down and read these comments?
So I suggest that we all take a chill and write PRODUCTIVE commments, not threatening ones.
And if you read "I WAS THERE"’s comment, you’ll see that the police aren’t that evil after all.
Law Suit
Somebody has to start documenting these cases, perhaps the mismanaged CHJCC. Once we have written documentation, we can then have a competant attorney file a suit, which we can win. If blacks can sue for every stupid thing under the sun, why can’t we???
dicrimination by NYPD
It has now become the custom that if you don’t dicriminate against white people then it is as if you discriminate against black people.
This is not what concress wanted when we supported civil rights.
Blacks in our neiborhood ought to be treated fairly, but the cops have to stop discriminitaing againt us, all the while the blacks (especially the criminals) can live in peace and don’t worry about anything such as crime etc…
Brachie
I recently recieved a summons for speaking on a cell phone when in fact i dont own one it was only after the same cop stopped me last week and accused me of the same thing only after i eagirly offered him to strip my car he let me go with out a summons. Is it normal that I have to be carefull not to have my hand in a "suspicious " position! why are we being so harrassed? Anyone else feel the same or have a sim. experience? perhaps we can present this to authorities.
YR
I saw officers Ditto #26831 and Lee 12634 handing out traffic tickets one after another on Friday (in Car 1474).
Are these the same guys involved?
A YID
I think that whoever is sitting on the comp. adding comments is not gaining anything either you should call the police or say tehillim or go to the ohel or DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE bec. writing comments on the comp. will get you NOWHERE!!!!!!!
CONCERNED!
Let us always pay our thanks to our wonderful EMS Volunteers and our FDNY Firemen. These people are always there for us during our time of need. They are truly the best that our city has to offer!!!
a fellow jew
A) Let’s not descend to their level by using profane language!
B) I certainly agree to call 311 for every offence.
C) Perhaps a lawyer from the community can volunteer to take up this case in a decent fashion.
D) Check your spelling.
dovid
Webby:
Right on Target!!!
distraut
this is a sick incident …
why is the community not making a big deal of this?
they should bring it before the court!
Itzik_s
Teen in CH. wrote:
Do you know that the Police actually sit down and read these comments?
So I suggest that we all take a chill and write PRODUCTIVE commments, not threatening ones.
And if you read "I WAS THERE"’s comment, you’ll see that the police aren’t that evil after all.
_____________________________________
Teen, this is a matter that is best left to adults. Thanks.
Storm?!!!
Now, I am not advocating doing this.
But, sometime back in the 80’s, in Boro Park, there was a Chassidishe Yid,R”L, shot to death on Shabbos (Fri night). So, the community got the imnpression that the reason this happened is because the police were not interested in protecting them.
So, what did they do? They STORMED the 66th precinct and ransacked the place. Since then, I think there was improvement in the crime rate.