NYPD tells uniformed officers to prepare for deployment ahead of election protest in internal memo

Internal memo reportedly says election to be 'one of the most highly contested in the modern era’

New York Police Department (NYPD) officers form a line inside of an area being called the "City Hall Autonomous Zone" that has been established to protest the New York Police Department and in support of "Black Lives Matter" near City Hall in lower Manhatta (REUTERS)

New York City Police Department (NYPD) commissioner Dermot Shea has told uniformed officers to prepare for deployment in anticipation of protests amidst the presidential election next month through an internal memo, according to reports.

The memo obtained by NBC News and CNN reportedly warned that uniformed officers of service of every rank should “be prepared for deployment” starting 25 October.

According to the broadcasters, the memo anticipated that the 3 November election will be “one of the most highly contested presidential elections in the modern era.”

“There is also a strong likelihood that the winner of the presidential election may not be decided for several weeks,” it reportedly read.

Comm Shea reportedly told officers to anticipate for protests to grow in size, frequency, and intensity leading up to the election and even into the following year.

In an interview on NY 1 on Tuesday, Comm Shea confirmed the internal memo and said “it would be nice if we had an uneventful fall season but this is 2020 so I think the lesson here it to prepare for the worst and to be ready and that’s what that really is about.”

“Everyone is well aware of the climate right now in this country certainly here in the city and the election coming up and its our job to prepare for the worst and hopefully its not needed.”

The city previously faced successive nights of peaceful protests and violent demonstrations earlier in the year following the death of George Floyd on 25 May.

At the height of the civil unrest as many as eight demonstrations were held in one day, calling for justice in the killing of Floyd and an end to police brutality and systemic racism.

New York City police officers came under intense scrutiny during the demonstrations over reports of their treatment of peaceful demonstrators in the city.

New York Gov Andrew Cuomo directed New York Attorney General Letitia James to investigate actions and procedures used by the police.

The attorney general’s preliminary report called for an overhaul of the NYPD through “recommendations for systemic police reforms in light of the clear breakdown of trust between the police and the public.”

CNN reported that the department has been training how to handle unrest ahead of the election with federal law enforcement agencies holding discussion with sheriffs and local police.

"The whole idea behind the training is to separate those people that are there to cause chaos, as opposed to the real reason that the protests began in the first place," said Deputy Chief Samuel Wright, who is leading the initiative, according to the outlet.

The broadcaster reported that every uniformed officer in New York will take a two-day course focusing on tactical measures as well as the psychology behind protests.

The programme reportedly began in July and is said to be the first of its kind in decades.