NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch takes dig at Bronx DA while railing against soft-on-crime policies: ‘No consequences’

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark has come under fire from NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch for allegedly dropping the ball on cracking down on crime in the Bronx. Tisch criticized Clark’s handling of car theft cases, stating that the Bronx is the best place in the city to steal a car due to lenient charges for offenders. Tisch emphasized that auto theft should be treated as a felony and not a misdemeanor. Despite a 12% decrease in car theft citywide in the first quarter of the year, the Bronx saw a 3.6% increase in stolen vehicles.

Tisch’s comments were made in the context of a broader initiative to tackle quality of life crimes in New York City. The NYPD is dedicating 2,000 officers to address the most common complaints from residents. This initiative, launched in six precincts last week, aims to expand in the coming months to curb criminal activities that impact city residents.

Critics have accused Clark of being lax on crime, citing data from the state Division of Criminal Justice Services showing poor conviction and dismissal rates in major crime categories in New York City. In response to Tisch’s criticism, the Bronx DA’s office defended its charging decisions, stating that they only proceed with cases where there is sufficient evidence.

The Bronx DA’s office highlighted their partnership with the NYPD Auto Crime unit to address auto thefts, focusing on long-term investigations and prosecuting auto theft crews. They emphasized their commitment to holding offenders accountable and disrupting criminal patterns in the Bronx. Despite the criticism, the DA’s office remains dedicated to addressing auto crimes and ensuring justice is served.