Private security personnel do not have the same authority nor abilities as police officers. In terms of community safety best practices, this is misguided. In place of the NYPD is the proposition to reallocate as many law enforcement event security responsibilities to private security and other community groups as possible. Yet in addition to the ban on marching in the parade, there is an effort to significantly decrease the numbers of NYPD members providing services and emergency response at these events. (AP Photo/Julia Weeks, File)Įven more critical than comfort levels at mass gatherings in these unpredictable times is participant safety. Organizers of New York City’s Pride events said Saturday, they are banning police and other law enforcement from marching in their huge annual parade until at least 2025 and will also seek to keep on-duty officers a block away from the event. In this Sunday, Jfile photo, NYPD police officers march along Fifth Avenue during the gay pride parade in New York.
