NYC Cracking Down on Illegal Fireworks

Police are investigating a series of incidents, including one case in Manhattan where fireworks were thrown, ignited, at a man sleeping on the street; a top NYPD official decried the “inhumanity” of that crime Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled a new multi-agency task force Tuesday to crack down on illegal fireworks as complaints across the five boroughs soar to unprecedented levels for this time of year. The task force, comprised of 10 officers with the NYPD Intelligence Bureau, 12 FDNY Fire Marshals and 20 Sheriff’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation members, will disrupt illegal fireworks supply chains via sting operations within and outside New York City, de Blasio said, the goal being to cut the problem “off at its knees.” The FDNY will also launch a public safety campaign on the dangers. Andrew Siff reports.