NYPD: Prepared for potential General Assembly protests at U.N.

The NYPD has beefed up its presence around the United Nations to handle expected large demonstrations Thursday, and deployed barriers to keep crowds from getting close to sensitive locations, a top department official said.

Since the U.N.s General Assembly got underway this week, no significant protests have been reported but that was expected to change with Thursday's arrival of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said NYPD Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard.

Netanyahu was originally set to arrive earlier in the week to address the world body. He reportedly had to postpone his departure until Wednesday because of a potential war breaking out between Israel and Hezbollah after fighting at the Lebanon border.

Sheppard declined to provide details on the precise number of officers involved in policing the anticipated U.N. demonstrations, But he said the NYPD was expecting that protest organizers would try to have smaller demonstrations spread out in different locations to keep the department off balance.

The NYPD has a number of forces at the ready for mobilization and is augmenting the number of cops available by using overtime to keep them on duty beyond their normal shifts, Sheppard said. 

"We are prepared," Sheppard added.

Since Hamas militants launched an attack Oct. 7 at Israel's southern border, the NYPD has policed more than 1,300 demonstrations of all sizes, the majority of which, officials noted, have been peaceful. But some, particularly those at Columbia University and other institutions of higher learning, turned violent and led to scores of arrests.

In recent months, NYPD officials have said the combined total of overtime needs for subway policing and demonstrations had blown the overtime budget by more than $100 million.

If the U.N. demonstrations develop as predicted, they would also be the first big test for the NYPD under new leadership. Interim Police Commissioner Tom Donlon took over earlier this month with the abrupt resignation of Edward Caban after his cellphone was seized as part of a federal investigation of potential corruption involving Mayor Eric Adams and his administration. Last Friday, federal agents executed search warrants at Donlon's homes.

In a statement provided by the NYPD afterward, Donlon, a retired FBI agent, state homeland security official and principal at a private security firm, said federal authorities "took materials that came into my possession approximately 20 years ago and are unrelated to my work with the New York City Police Department."

No additional information about the search warrants was disclosed.

Caban’s attorney has said he is not the target of the corruption investigation, which is reportedly focused on the business dealings of his twin brother James. No one has been charged.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.