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Posted by
Jeff Rosen
on Wed Oct 4 19:32:34 2023
From an email I received from the Sergeants Benevolent Association:
In yet another instance illustrating that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg believes police officers are more of the problem than the solution to public safety, today his office filed misdemeanor assault charges against Sergeant Christian Zapata.
The charges are related to the response to a call involving an emotionally disturbed person in the 32 Precinct in December 2022. We do not believe these charges are justified by the facts, and again demonstrates DA Bragg’s repeated failures to appreciate the risks taken by Police Officers on a daily basis.
On December 22, 2022, then probationary Sgt. Zapata was working as the Patrol Supervisor when he and several officers attempted to clear an apartment so EMS workers, who were on the scene, could assist the EDP. At that time, Jerome Collins, who was present in the apartment, interfered with their ability to assist the EDP by becoming verbally and physically combative with the officers.
The officers were unable to stop Mr. Collins from interfering with their duties and Mr. Collins responded by striking an officer. After witnessing the assault of one of his officers, Sgt. Zapata, like any good supervisor, stepped in to provide aid to his fellow officers and the EMS workers. It is important to note that at this point the risks posed by the EDP were still unresolved.
Pursuant to his training, Sgt. Zapata physically engaged with Collins, striking him until he complied with the instructions of the officers. Inexplicably, DA Bragg declined to prosecute Mr. Collins and has instead charged Sgt. Zapata, who during his exemplary 12-year career has made over 400 arrests and has had no CCRB complaints filed against him.
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