A recent report uncovered a secretive specialized police unit in New York City that focuses on removing illegal mopeds, ghost cars, and unlicensed street vendors from the streets.
The unit, known as the Patrol Services Bureau Community Response Team (CRT), was established by top NYPD officials in 2022 to address quality-of-life complaints. Surprisingly, the unit has no official mission statement and is not mentioned on the department’s website, according to the city’s Department of Investigation.
Led by Chief of Patrol John Chell and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry, the CRT has grown from 16 initial members to 165 and operates discreetly throughout the city, the investigation revealed.
“The lack of transparency regarding NYPD’s Community Response Team risks non-compliance with the law, ethical breaches, and negative policing outcomes,” said DOI Inspector General Jeanene Barrett.
“Since its inception more than two years ago, CRT has expanded significantly, with a team in every Patrol Borough, without a corresponding expansion of publicly available information about the work of this unit,” Barrett added.
Despite the secrecy surrounding the unit, Deputy Commissioner Daughtry often praises the CRT on social media for its efforts in addressing quality-of-life issues.
“Day 35: Manhattan residents have spoken loud and clear — unlawful vendors cluttering our streets? Not on our watch!” he wrote, showcasing seized knock-off designer wallets.
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