13 Members And Associates Of Mac Baller Brims Charged With Racketeering, Narcotics, And Firearms Offenses

Indictment Includes Charges for Five Attempted Murders

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), today announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging 13 members and associates of the Mac Baller Brims gang that operated in and around the Mount Hope section of the Bronx with racketeering, narcotics, and firearms offenses, including five attempted murders between September 2018 and July 2019. 

Of the 13 defendants, eight – DERRICK CASADO, a/k/a “Big Bank,” a/k/a “Papa D,” JUSTIN COLON, a/k/a “Lindo,” MICHAEL ROWE, a/k/a “MJ,” CARLOS RIVERA, a/k/a “Nug,” JAHUAN POLLARD, a/k/a “Flip,” CARLOS ROSARIO, a/k/a “Baby Bottle,” a/k/a “Carlito,” a/k/a “Barlito,” a/k/a “Barlos,” JUAN TEJADA, a/k/a “Gotti,” and CHRISTIAN LIVERMAN – were taken into federal custody in New York earlier today.  They were presented before Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman today.  Defendant DAVON MCCULLOUGH, a/k/a “Yung,” a/k/a “Dayday,” was also taken into federal custody in Virginia earlier today, and he was to be presented before Magistrate Judge Lawrence R. Leonard today.  Two other defendants – DARRELL LAWRENCE, a/k/a “Capo,” and GIBRIL DARBOE, a/k/a “Mouse,” a/k/a “G Money” – are currently in state custody in Maine on related charges and will be presented in the District of Maine on a later date.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken.    

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, the defendants wreaked havoc on the Mount Hope section of the Bronx, through acts of violence and narcotics trafficking as members of the Mac Baller Brims.  Thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners at the NYPD, HSI, and DEA, the defendants now face federal charges for these very serious crimes.”

Police Commissioner James O’Neill said:  “This case highlights the NYPD’s relentless pursuit of those few individuals who drive the worst kinds of violence and disorder.  Our success reflects how New Yorkers share in our responsibility to keep families and neighborhoods safe to aid us in reducing crime beyond our record-lows.  I want to commend our partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District, and the members of Homeland Security Investigations, and the DEA, for working together to dismantle a group allegedly responsible for shootings, robberies, drug-dealing, and more.” 

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said:  “This investigation exemplifies law enforcement partnerships prevailing over a criminal enterprise only looking to benefit from chaos.  HSI will not back down and will not stop our fight to secure our communities and our nation from violence and narcotics distribution.  Criminal organizations like the Mac Baller Brims should take note that combined law enforcement efforts like this investigation with HSI, the NYPD and DEA along with the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York only thrive our resolve to end their existence and eliminate any financial gains they hope to profit.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

The Mac Baller Brims were a criminal enterprise, and their members and associates committed numerous acts of violence, including shootings, in and around the Bronx.  They engaged in such acts to preserve and protect their power, territory, and profits, and to promote and enhance the gang and its criminal activities.  Members of the gang also enriched themselves by committing robberies and by selling drugs, such as crack cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana, including in New York and in Maine.  While conducting their drug business, members and associates of the gang used, carried, and possessed firearms, and members of the gang brandished and fired those guns on multiple occasions since 2017.           

Count One of the Indictment charges DARRELL LAWRENCE, DAVON MCCULLOUGH, GIBRIL DARBOE, DERRICK CASADO, JUSTIN COLON, MICHAEL ROWE, CARLOS RIVERA, JAHUAN POLLARD, CARLOS ROSARIO, DAVONTE GARCIA, and JOSE NOUEL with conspiring to conduct and participate in the conduct and affairs of the Mac Ballers enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity, including through acts involving murder, robbery, and narcotics distribution.

Counts Two and Three charge ROWE with assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering in connection with a September 14, 2018, shooting, and a related firearms offense.

Counts Four and Five charge COLON with assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering in connection with a March 9, 2019, shooting, and a related firearms offense.

Counts Six and Seven charge CASADO with assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering in connection with a May 17, 2019, shooting, and a related firearms offense.

Counts Eight and Nine charge ROSARIO with assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering in connection with a July 18, 2019, attempted shooting, and a related firearms offense.

Counts Ten and Eleven charge ROSARIO with assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering in connection with a July 20, 2019, shooting, and a related firearms offense.

Count Twelve charges LAWRENCE, MCCULLOUGH, DARBOE, CASADO, COLON, ROWE, RIVERA, POLLARD, ROSARIO, GARCIA, and NOUEL, as well as JUAN TEJADA and CHRISTIAN LIVERMAN, with conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana.

Count Thirteen charges LAWRENCE, MCCULLOUGH, DARBOE, CASADO, COLON, ROWE, RIVERA, POLLARD, ROSARIO, GARCIA, NOUEL, TEJADA and LIVERMAN with using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging firearms during and in relation to a narcotics conspiracy.

Charts containing the names, ages, residences, charges, and maximum penalties for the defendants are set forth below.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of the NYPD and HSI on this investigation, and thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration for its assistance.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

COUNT	CHARGE	DEFENDANTS	MAX. PENALTIES
1	Racketeering conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	DARRELL LAWRENCE DAVON MCCULLOUGH GIBRIL DARBOE DERRICK CASADO JUSTIN COLON MICHAEL ROWE CARLOS RIVERA JAHUAN POLLARD CARLOS ROSARIO DAVONTE GARCIA JOSE NOUEL	Life in prison
2	Assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959 and 2	MICHAEL ROWE	20 years in prison
3	Using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2	MICHAEL ROWE	Life in prison Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
4	Assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959 and 2	JUSTIN COLON	20 years in prison
5	Using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2	JUSTIN COLON	Life in prison Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
6	Assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959 and 2	DERRICK CASADO	20 years in prison
7	Using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2	DERRICK CASADO	Life in prison Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
8	Assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959 and 2	CARLOS ROSARIO	20 years in prison
9	Using, carrying, possessing, and brandishing a firearm 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), and 2	CARLOS ROSARIO	Life in prison Mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison
10	Assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959 and 2	CARLOS ROSARIO	20 years in prison
11	Using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2	CARLOS ROSARIO	Life in prison Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
12	Narcotics conspiracy 21 U.S.C. § 846	DARRELL LAWRENCE DAVON MCCULLOUGH GIBRIL DARBOE DERRICK CASADO JUSTIN COLON MICHAEL ROWE CARLOS RIVERA JAHUAN POLLARD CARLOS ROSARIO DAVONTE GARCIA JOSE NOUEL JUAN TEJADA CHRISTIAN LIVERMAN	Life in prison Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison
13	Using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging firearms 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), and 2	DARRELL LAWRENCE DAVON MCCULLOUGH GIBRIL DARBOE DERRICK CASADO JUSTIN COLON MICHAEL ROWE CARLOS RIVERA JAHUAN POLLARD CARLOS ROSARIO DAVONTE GARCIA JOSE NOUEL JUAN TEJADA CHRISTIAN LIVERMAN	Life in prison Mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison

DEFENDANT	AGE	RESIDENCE
DARRELL LAWRENCE, a/k/a “Capo”	29	Bronx, New York
DAVON MCCULLOUGH, a/k/a “Yung,” a/k/a “Dayday”	32	Newport News, Virginia
GIBRIL DARBOE, a/k/a “Mouse,” a/k/a “G Money”	22	Bronx, New York
DERRICK CASADO, a/k/a “Big Bank,” a/k/a “Papa D”	19	Bronx, New York
JUSTIN COLON, a/k/a “Lindo”	20	Bronx, New York
MICHAEL ROWE, a/k/a “MJ”	19	Bronx, New York
CARLOS RIVERA, a/k/a “Nug”	18	Bronx, New York
JAHUAN POLLARD, a/k/a “Flip”	18	Bronx, New York
CARLOS ROSARIO, a/k/a “Baby Bottle,” a/k/a “Carlito,” a/k/a “Barlito,” a/k/a “Barlos”	18	Bronx, New York
DAVONTE GARCIA, a/k/a “VT”	22	Bronx, New York
JOSE NOUEL, a/k/a “Tutu”	22	Bronx, New York
JUAN TEJADA, a/k/a “Gotti”	19	Bronx, New York
CHRISTIAN LIVERMAN	27	Bronx, New York

Attorney General James Announces Election Protection Hotline To Open During Early Voting

Attorney General’s Office Will Troubleshoot Election Issues

During New York’s First Early Voting Period

Voters Experiencing Problems Can Call 1-800-771-7755

or Email election.hotline@ag.ny.gov

 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that the Attorney General’s Office will make its Election Protection Hotline available to voters during New York’s first early voting period, beginning on October 26, and lasting until November 3. Voters that experience problems casting early ballots, can report issues to the Attorney General’s Office from 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM each day of the early voting period, by calling 800-771-7755 or emailing election.hotline@ag.ny.gov.

“Voting is one of our most basic democratic rights, so we must do everything in our power to protect that right,” said Attorney General James. “Early voting is a commonsense measure that will provide greater accessibility and convenience to New Yorkers across the state and ensure that they have ample time to cast their ballot and make their voices heard. We are opening our Election Protection Hotline every day of early voting to protect every New Yorkers’ fundamental right and ensure our first early vote is a successful one. I urge all New Yorkers to vote early.”

This election will offer New Yorkers their first opportunity to vote early. Starting tomorrow, Saturday, October 26 through Sunday, November 3, registered voters in New York will be able to cast a ballot in-person at certain designated poll sites.

Each county Board of Elections will make one or more sites available to registered voters to cast ballots early. Those poll sites will only open for certain hours each day. To find details about early voting poll sites and the hours that those poll sites will be open, New Yorkers can check the website of their county Board of Elections or check the VoteEarlyNY website.

Importantly, voters residing in New York City or in the counties of Westchester or Orange have been assigned particular early voting poll sites by their local Board of Elections. As a result, in order to cast an effective early vote, voters must vote at the particular polling site assigned to them. Voters in Albany County have also been assigned a particular polling site, but these voters have the option of casting a ballot at the Albany County Board of Elections office. Voters in every other county of the state have the benefit of voting early at any early voting poll site in their county.

Additionally, there are several other key changes in election law that were enacted this year, which will be in effect throughout New York State. Most importantly, registered voters who have moved from one county in New York to another county within the state may now cast a ballot — during early vote or on Election Day — at their new residence without resubmitting an entirely new registration form. This can be done by filing out an affidavit ballot at their new residence’s local poll site. Voters can contact their local Board of Elections if they need help locating their new polling site or reach out to the New York Attorney General’s Office by calling 800-771-7755 or emailing election.hotline@ag.ny.gov.

The New York Attorney General’s Office has operated the voter access hotline since November 2012. During previous elections, the office fielded hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of complaints from voters across the state, and worked with local election officials and others to address issues. In 2017, in part from information received from an Election Hotline, the Attorney General’s Office sued and secured a consent decree with the New York City Board of Elections regarding voter registration purges.

The Election Day Hotline is part of the New York Attorney General’s Office ongoing effort to reduce barriers to voting. Attorney General James reminds all registered voters that they have the right to accessible elections. In addition, all registered voters have the right to vote free from coercion or intimidation, whether by election officials or any other person.

Comptroller Stringer Spotlights Creative Sector’s Critical Contributions to NYC Economy in Expansive New Report

Creative sector employs nearly 300,000 New Yorkers; spurs $110 billion in economic activity and accounts for one in every eight dollars of New York City’s annual economic output

Over one-third of creative sector workers are self-employed; many struggle with precarious employment and affordability

Comptroller unveils roadmap to build the creative economy of the future — promote and expand the creative sector, mitigate affordability issues, and address inequities and underrepresentation

   New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today released a comprehensive new report on the creative economy in New York City, showing that the creative sector spurs $110 billion in economic activity, employs nearly 300,000 New Yorkers, and now accounts for one out of every eight dollars of New York City’s annual economic output. The Comptroller’s analysis provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the state of this iconic sector and its workforce – showcasing the sector’s importance to the city and identifying recommendations to build the creative economy of the future by strengthening the relationship between City government and creative institutions and programming.

“New York City is the creative capital of the world, and this report shows how the sector at the heart and soul of our city is also a pillar of our economy.  From Broadway to local theater groups, film studios to artists’ studios, New York City’s creative sector is as much a core industry of our city as banking or real estate or law. We need to invest in strengthening the creative economy to support and recognize it as the engine of opportunity that it is,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “New York City is the crossroads of creativity. This report provides a thoughtful and comprehensive roadmap for the City to fully realize the potential of the creative economy, expand opportunities to all New Yorkers, and build a thriving, diverse creative sector for the future.”

The State of the Creative Economy and the Creative Workforce Today

• The sector – comprising industries from the performing arts to advertising, film and television to museums and art galleries, publishing, fashion, design and architecture, as well as thousands of independent artists, designers and others — employs 293,000 people, pays $30 billion annually in earnings, and accounts for one in every eight dollars in economic output.
• The U.S. creative sector is increasingly concentrated in New York City. Twelve percent of creative sector jobs are located in the City – compared to 3 percent of all U.S. jobs – reaching as high as one in every 5 jobs nationally in the publishing, advertising, and fashion design industries.
• At the same time, volatile employment situations for some creative workers, high rates of self-employment, and a growing affordability crunch contribute to economic insecurity among much of the creative workforce, challenging New York City’s continued pre-eminence as a creative hub. Lack of diversity among creative workers also remains a challenge.

The Future of the Creative Economy

Comptroller Stringer’s report details a series of recommendations aimed at strengthening and sustaining the creative sector in New York City. In particular, the report emphasized the importance of establishing a comprehensive citywide strategy to sustain and promote this economically-important sector, better connect all New Yorkers with cultural opportunities and careers, and ensure that creative workers are equipped to continue to thrive in New York City.  These include:

• Better integrating the work of multiple City agencies and entities through the creation of a deputy-mayor level task force to elevate the attention and focus of City government on this critical sector. City entities that are most actively engaged with the sector include the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and NYC & Company.
• Creating and promoting Cultural Districts throughout the city modeled on existing districts such as Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile, the Brooklyn Cultural District, Kaufman Arts District in Queens, and the Little Haiti Cultural and Business District in Flatbush to promote neighborhood cultural resources as engines of local development as well sources of community enrichment
• Help expand and diversify the sector by improving the capital funding process for non-profit organizations and cultural organizations so they can continue to provide opportunity and enrichment in communities.
• Incentivizing the conversion of industrial spaces such as former manufacturing or commercial sites for creative sector uses, and using existing public spaces such as New York City Department of Education (DOE) dance studios, music rooms, theaters, visual arts rooms and media arts rooms.

Deepen Connections to Local Communities

Comptroller Stringer’s report highlighted the need to better connect the city’s cultural organizations with local residents and communities, which can help promote diversity in the sector. In addition to the role Cultural Districts can play, recommendations detailed in the report included:

• Ensuring that every NYC public school student receives arts and creative education in schools and partnering with local arts organizations as resources for public school arts education.
• Bolstering support for arts programming for at-risk and underserved youth, including the criminal justice-involved, to create pathways for careers in the creative sector.

Supporting the Creative Workforce

Over one-third of the creative sector workforce were self-employed in 2017, leaving them especially economically vulnerable in a City with a growing affordability challenge. The Comptroller’s report outlines several proposals to support this significant segment of New York’s workforce by connecting them to benefits and protections available to most fulltime employees, including health insurance and retirement benefits, wage protection, and unemployment insurance. The recommendations include:

• Supporting state legislation to combat wage theft by broadening the New York State Department of Labor’s oversight and enforcement authority to ensure that freelancers receive the same wage protections as traditional employees.
• Supporting access to quality, affordable health insurance for all freelancers and creative workers, particularly as nearly 10 percent of creative workers in the city lack health insurance.
• Expanding unemployment benefits to creative and freelance workers.
• Creating new affordable housing and workspaces such as renovating industrial spaces to fit individual, communal, commercial, and residential needs of artists, freelancers, and creative workers.

NYC Creative Sector Employment, 2017

Change in Residents in Creative Occupations by Neighborhood, 2008-2017

The Creative Workforce in New York City

Occupation	2008	2017	Pct. Change
Actors	9,255	11,509	24.4%
Architects	12,703	13,216	4.0%
Artists	17,681	17,447	-1.3%
Sound Operators and Media Editors	13,750	16,935	23.2%
Dancers and Entertainers	5,215	5,312	1.9%
Designers	52,530	61,496	17.1%
Writers, Authors and Editors	41,513	48,053	15.8%
Musicians	12,218	14,221	16.4%
Photographers	12,185	11,709	-3.9%
Producers and Directors	19,167	22,455	17.2%
Total, Creative Occupations	196,217	222,353	13.3%
Total, All NYC Occupations	3,817,552	4,131,157	8.2%
Creativ SOURCE: NYC Comptroller’s Office from Census Bureau Microdata Percent Change in NYC Creative Employment by Industry, 2008 to 2017 Share of Self-Employed NYC Creative Workers, 2017 e Workers as Percent of Total	5.1%	5.4%

Police-involved Shooting in the 73 Precinct, Brooklyn

October 25, 2019

Remarks as prepared for Chief of Patrol Rodney Harrison

I'm Rodney Harrison, Chief of Patrol.

I want to remind you that the information I am about to provide is preliminary and subject to change.

Earlier this evening, at approximately 5:40 p.m., a male entered the Goldmine Nail Salon at 447 Mother Gaston Boulevard attempting to use the restroom. After the male entered, he began to urinate in the middle of the salon. Two uniformed police officers from the 73rd Precinct, in a marked department van, were on patrol and were stopped by the salon operators and requested that the officers remove the disorderly male. In the course of a field investigation, the officers determined that the male had an active warrant and began to place him under arrest and he began to resist. An individual standing outside the store entered and engaged in a violent struggle with the uniformed officers. One of the officers deployed a Taser, but it was ineffective in stopping the threat. The male continued his violent struggle with the officers by raising up a metal chair and striking one of the officers in the head. This officer discharged his firearm six times at the subject. The perpetrator was pronounced deceased at the location by EMS.

The officer who was struck in the head is in a medically induced coma here at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center, and is in critical but stable condition. The officer's partner was treated for tinnitus at Kings County Hospital and has been released.

The subject of the initial stop has been apprehended and charges are pending at this time.

I'd like to thank the doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals here at Brookdale Hospital for the excellent care afforded to our officer.

Once again, were standing at a hospital because one of our brave officers was injured while keeping New Yorkers safe. This time, it was because of a man who violently interfered with a lawful arrest. This incident underscores the dangers our officers face each and every day.

Why Did Inside City Hall Have only Pro Rank Choice Voting Advocates?

  Watching New York One Inside City Hall Friday night October 25th I was amazed to see two pro Proposition One speakers only, talking (and lying about) Rank Choice Voting with no anti Proposition One speaker.

There are three parts to Proposition One.

Part One - Rank Choice Voting. 

For school boards, voters ranked their votes one through nine for nine school board seats. Votes were dropped down to meet a quota that many did not. The reason not everyone voted for nine candidates, and a good percentage of votes were eliminated..

Rank Choice Voting is for only one position.

In round one of Rank Choice Voting a candidate must obtain one vote over 50% of the total votes cast in order not to have an instant run off. 

In round two the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and the votes are given to the second choice. A candidate then needs 50% of the remaining votes after all ballots with no number two choice are taken out.

In round two while the goal is to have a winner with over 50% of the vote, it is not of the total vote, but of the votes left in that round.

The same holds true for rounds three, four, and five if needed. Thus the winner of Rank Choice Voting could wind up with more votes than the original highest vote getter, but still not over 50% of the original total vote cast, the goal of Rank Chioce Voting. That then becomes a fraud upon the public.

To a question of how one candidate would be chosen to be eliminated if two candidates had the same exact number of votes (including any drop down) I was told by David Seitzer Counsel for Charter 2019 (who called me to try to answer my questions asked at forums the presenters couldn't, hosted by Charter 2019) said that is one of the problems that could come up.

Part two of Proposition one is to increase the time allowed to fill a vacancy that may occur from 45 days to 80 days. That would almost double the time of nonrepresentation for the people of said vacant district. 

Part three would add to the timeline for redistricting for city primary elections in 2023. Petitioning for the city primary election in June 2023 would begin in February as the primary in 2023 would be held in June and not September as in previous elections (with the exception of 2021). For the 2012 primary election held in September of 2012 the voter registration books were not ready until after the primary election of 2012. Upon asking Ms. Valerie Cazquez-Diaz the Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the NYC Board of Elections how the 2023 voter registration books would be ready, she answered that would have to be done if Proposition One is passed.

Since the two people on New York One Inside City Hall were in favor of Rank Choice Voting, I challenge Spectrum Cable, New York One, Inside City Hall host Errol Lewis, and producer Bob Hardt to give me equal time to talk against Proposition One on this years ballot.

Robert Press

Mr. Lewis or Mr. Hardt I can be reached at 718-644-4199 or at 100percentbronxnews@gmail.com

NYPD and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Announce FINEST CARE, New Collaboration to Offer Free, Confidential Counseling to Officers

New Program Gives Officers Access to Highest-Quality, Comprehensive Mental Health Services

 The New York Police Department and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital today announced a new collaboration to connect uniformed members of service with free, confidential counseling and other mental health services, as part of NYPD’s health and wellness programming. Starting Monday, October 28th, FINEST CARE will enable officers to call a confidential NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital referral line to get connected to the Hospital’s affiliated psychologists and psychiatrists.

"The dedicated public servants who have driven crime to record-lows in New York City deserve the best-quality mental health care to help them deal with the emotional challenges of their difficult work," said Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill. "Think about the stresses they endure every day, the cumulative trauma they experience: They go to shootings and murder scenes, they interview sexual assault victims - there didn’t always seem to be an outlet to talk about that. And the biggest issue is the stigma about seeking and accepting help for ourselves. Now, those who devote their lives to helping others overcome crisis situations have access to free, confidential counseling with some of the top psychologists and psychiatrists in our nation. I want to remind everyone in our NYPD family that caring for yourselves, and helping others connect with the help they need, is never a sign of weakness - in fact, it's a sign of incredible strength. We're looking to help all of our members get back on the road to doing the jobs they love."

"When I was 18 years old, my Dad took his own life. He was a World II hero and was so used to helping others that he found it difficult to accept it for himself," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Too many members of the NYPD family have had to watch their colleagues and loved ones succumb to mental health struggles. We are launching a new partnership with NewYork-Presbyterian to eradicate stigma and get our officers the help they need."

"NewYork-Presbyterian is honored to provide NYPD officers with the highest-quality mental health services to meet their unique needs," said Dr. Steven J. Corwin, president and CEO of NewYork-Presbyterian. "Historically, members of law enforcement have been reluctant to seek help, seeing themselves as providers, not receivers, of help. FINEST CARE can break that cycle and provide the best care available to our city's officers, to whom we owe a great debt."

FINEST CARE will provide all uniformed members of service with access to clinicians that can provide counseling through difficult life events. At no cost to the officer, the program will offer a wide range of comprehensive and confidential behavioral health services specifically developed for NYPD uniformed officers and tailored to meet an individual’s needs. Examples of available resources include: a one-time appointment to discuss an acute issue, regular outpatient therapy sessions with licensed psychiatrists and psychologists, prescribed medication when clinically appropriate, and more.

A team of clinicians from NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Division will be made available for this effort. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is collaborating with its affiliated medical schools, Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s psychiatry specialty is ranked among the top five in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.

To access resources, uniformed members of service can call NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital's dedicated referral line and speak to a coordinator who will identify a convenient provider for a timely appointment. Coordinators will be trained to speak with NYPD officers and to identify whether a caller is in immediate need of help or is looking to speak to a mental health professional about an issue before it turns into a crisis. FINEST CARE is available for all kinds of emotional challenges, and all uniformed members of service who are experiencing challenges are encouraged to call.

The program costs will vary according to use, up to $1.2 million of the NYPD budget. The Police Foundation provided an initial $150K in support of the program.

NewYork-Presbyterian NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the nation's most comprehensive, integrated academic healthcare systems, encompassing 10 hospital campuses across the Greater New York area, more than 200 primary and specialty care clinics and medical groups, and an array of telemedicine services.

A leader in medical education, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is the only academic medical center in the nation affiliated with two world-class medical schools, Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. This collaboration means patients have access to the country's leading physicians, the full range of medical specialties, latest innovations in care, and research that is developing cures and saving lives.

NYPD's Health and Wellness Programming The Department has recently established a "Health & Wellness Task Force" to develop a holistic and comprehensive strategy on health and wellness, which includes physical, mental, and emotional health. The Task Force is chaired by the First Deputy Commissioner, in collaboration with various units within the Department. Recent initiatives include:

• Executive and Command-level Training
• Increasing access to Shield of Resilience Training Course, used by law enforcement officers nationwide
• Training members from each command in Mental Health First Aid
• Launching Peer Support Program
• Launching Health and Wellness App
• Updating shield policy
• Increasing staffing in the Medical Division