[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the City of Mount Vernon 5-12-1982, approved 5-13-1982. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Peace and good order — See Ch. 191.
The purpose of this chapter is for the protection of sworn police
officers during the performance of their duties, and, in support of
that aim, the following legislative findings are hereby made:
A.
This chapter is for the protection of the City's police officers
pursuant to § 10, Subdivision 1a, of the Municipal Home
Rule Law, which provides that a municipality may adopt local laws
for the protection, welfare and safety of its officers and employees.
B.
Police officers are not second-class citizens who may be publicly
vilified and abused with impunity while the average citizen is protected
from public vilification.
[Amended 5-26-1982, approved 5-27-1982]
C.
The presence of a third person will tend to deter the making of unjust
charges of harassment by police officers.
D.
The efficiency and morale of police officers is negatively affected
if public abuse and vilification of these officers is permitted.
E.
The physical safety from attack is threatened by insulting, inciting
language directed to a police officer in a public place. Such language
may encourage and incite a physical assault upon the police officer
by others present in the public place.
F.
Only those epithets and gestures which common knowledge would classify
as "fighting words" or actions should be prosecuted.
G.
This chapter is not inconsistent with any state law.
A person is guilty of harassment of a police officer when, with
intent to annoy, harass or alarm said police officer, in a public
place, with at least one other person present beside the addresser
and addressee police officer, he directs obscene, abusive fighting
words or he makes an obscene gesture directed to a police officer.
Any person found guilty of a violation of this chapter may be
punished by a fine of not more than $150 or to 15 days' imprisonment,
or both.
