Department of Justice opens investigation into officers parking on sidewalks in the Bronx
According to the Department of Justice, the NYPD has been cooperating with this investigation.
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The U.S. Department of Justice is cracking down on police officers parking on sidewalks in the Bronx.
The department wrote a letter to the NYPD last month warning that they could be sued if the issue persists as it's a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
"It creates a barrier for me because I cannot get onto the sidewalk and possibly get into the building,” said Dustin Jones, a disabilities rights activist. "In most cases, I have to go into oncoming traffic and that's not something you want to really do with all of these people on e-bikes, regular bikes and cars coming at you."
Jones' experience has been one felt across the boroughs for quite some time. The issue was brought to the DOJ's attention by the Southern District of New York (SDNY). They opened an investigation into the NYPD's practices and claim 91% of all precincts across the five boroughs have made it so that the city’s pedestrian grid is not “readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities.”
"In some cases, you have a situation where the sidewalk might be narrow or there's construction," said Jones. "With everybody moving around, it creates a barrier for anybody with a disability or someone with a stroller."
According to the DOJ, the NYPD is fully cooperating with this investigation. News 12 reached out to police to learn how they plan to address these concerns.
