The New York Police Department (NYPD) has faced criticism for disciplining one of its officers for not assisting in the arrest of an unlicensed fruit vendor and her 14-year-old daughter near the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in Lower Manhattan. The incident, which occurred on June 2, 2026 drew widespread attention and became a focal point in the city’s ongoing debate over street vending regulations.
The NYPD trial decision, made public in, revealed that Officer Serge Jean was assisting Parks Department officers in a joint operation against unlicensed food vendors when the altercation took place. The viral video of the incident showed Parks Department officers struggling with the teenager, identified as A.M. in NYPD records, which led to a public outcry and eventually influenced the City Council to expand vending licenses for the first time in 47 years.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
According to the trial decision, Officer Jean called for backup twice and briefly grabbed a bystander’s hand to prevent them from interfering. However, he did not assist his partner or the Parks Department officers in handcuffing either A.M. or her mother. Additionally, he did not push back a swarming crowd or pursue A.M. after she escaped with one of an NYPD officer’s handcuffs still attached to her wrist.
Jean testified that he was managing the crowd from a safe distance, but the trial decision found that his body-worn camera contradicted this account. The decision also noted that Jean told the Parks Department officers, “Look, you can’t always get [A.M.] back, but they’re going to be here again, so don’t worry about it.” Jean, who has been with the department since 2011 and has no prior disciplinary history, was rated “exceptional” in his most recent annual performance evaluation and has since been promoted to the rank of detective.
The Disciplinary Decision
The assistant deputy commissioner of trials, Anne Stone oversaw Jean’s hearing and described his testimony as “self-serving.” She found that Jean’s “lackadaisical attitude” and “refusal to physically assist his fellow officers” contributed to the conditions that allowed A.M. to escape. Stone recommended that Jean lose 20 vacation days as punishment. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch approved the recommendation as written.
A City Hall spokesperson declined to comment and referred questions to the NYPD. A police spokesperson pointed to Stone’s finding that Jean “made everyone else less safe.” The decision has sparked debate among immigrant advocates and city officials, who argue that the discipline of an NYPD officer cuts against the spirit of collaborations that prioritize education over arrests.
Reactions from Advocates and Officials
Monica Sibri a founder of the migrant-vendor outreach group Algún Día emphasized the importance of training NYPD officers to handle these situations with a human side. “This is punishing an officer who has chosen a humanitarian approach to helping our communities,” she said. Mohamed Attia codirector of the Street Vendor Project argued that the wrong officer was punished. “The Parks Department officer who tried to arrest A.M. should be punished and held accountable, not the other way around,” he stated.
The Parks Department said the officer involved was temporarily placed on administrative duty and later returned to the field in the Bronx without punishment. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and complexities surrounding street vending regulations and policing approaches in New York City.
