A violent mob of people protesting the death of George Floyd destroyed a NYPD Auxiliary RMP and a NYPD SUV RMP outside of the 88th Precinct Friday night. (Theodore Parisienne/for New York Daily News)
The NYPD has temporarily suspended all solo police patrols in response to the violence that has plagued New York City protests over the death of a black man at the hands of a Minneapolis cop.
The department orders came down Saturday morning, prohibiting officers from conducting solo patrols “regardless of bureau, command or assignment."
Several cops were injured and close to 200 protesters were arrested at a rally at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn Friday night.
At one point, protesters tried to force their way into the 88th Precinct station house and torched two police vehicles, including a marked police van with four cops inside.
The Police Benevolent Association hailed the decision on Instagram and encouraged all its members to follow the new rule.
“The directive must be adhered to under all circumstances," the PBA said in a letter to its members. “Once again, our mission is to make sure that each of us goes home safely at the end of tour.”
In another letter, PBA President Pat Lynch reminded cops that they have every right to wear their helmets during the protests.