TOH Councilman Proposes Law For Water Attacks On Code Enforcers

In the wake of New York City Police officers being drenched with buckets of water, Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony D'Esposito is proposing a law that would make it an offense to do similar acts to town Enforcement Officials.

D'Esposito, himself a NYPD detective, plans to introduce the legislation at the next Hempstead Town Board meeting on Aug. 6, and call for a public vote on Sept. 3.

“The recent atrocious acts committed against New York City Police Officers is disrespectful to men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect others,” said D’Esposito. “As a detective with the greatest police department in the world, I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with my brothers and sisters to support them, as I also support Hempstead Town’s enforcement officials on a daily basis. That’s why I’m introducing a local law which prohibits assaulting Town of Hempstead Enforcement Officials with a penalty if an offense occurs.”

The law would create a penalty for assaulting a town enforcement officer with a liquid. Those in violation would face 15 days to one year in jail.

Town of Hempstead Enforcement Officials include employees of the Department of Buildings, the Department of Sanitation, the Department of Highways, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Conservation and Waterways, or the Town Clerk’s Office who are charged with the responsibility to perform inspection and/or enforcement duties with regard to the laws, codes, ordinances, rules and regulations of the Town of Hempstead, New York State law or federal law.

"I fully support Councilman D'Esposito's proposed resolution on protecting the town's enforcement officials,” said Theresa Kohutka, president of CSEA Local 880. “In the past few weeks we have seen these physical attacks on our law enforcement, and this behavior should not be tolerated."