NYPD Commissioner Blasts Albany, DA and Judges After Officer Shot in Barricade Standoff

Manhattan, NY – NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch had harsh words for Albany officials and the state’s judicial system after an officer was shot in the shoulder during a standoff with a barricaded suspect on the Lower East Side Tuesday morning.

The suspect, 35-year-old Edwin Rivera, a career criminal with a lengthy criminal history, had been arrested multiple times, including being on parole four times. He had also been convicted several times and was last arrested in November. Tisch, visibly frustrated during her press briefing, pointed to Rivera’s past as a glaring example of the system’s failures.

“This individual, Edward Rivera, is out on parole,” Tisch stated. “He’s been arrested countless times. He’s served multiple sentences, and yet here we are today. Why was he out on the streets? How is the system designed to continue releasing repeat offenders? I ask Albany and our judges—what are you doing here?”

The shooting occurred around 5:10 a.m. when officers with the NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit attempted to serve a search warrant at the Vladeck Houses on Madison Street. Rivera had barricaded himself inside an apartment, and, before negotiations could begin, he opened fire through the door, hitting the officer in the shoulder.

The officer was rushed to Bellevue Hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, as confirmed by Tisch. During a press conference at Bellevue Hospital today, Tisch emphasized the severity of the situation. “This is a prime example of the consequences of releasing violent offenders,” she said. “We should never have been in this situation. This shooting could have been avoided if this man had been kept off the streets.”

Despite the injuries, the department’s efforts to negotiate with Rivera continued for several hours, until he opened fire again.

Rivera was eventually taken into custody after being wounded in the exchange of gunfire with officers. His condition remains unknown at this time.

Tisch’s remarks reflect growing frustration over New York’s lenient bail reform laws, which critics argue allow repeat offenders to be released back into the community too easily, putting both law enforcement and citizens at risk.

An NYPD officer was shot in the arm during a standoff with a suspect on the Lower East Side.

Police were serving a warrant at a Madison Street NYCHA building around 5 a.m. when the suspect fired shots and barricaded himself.

The officer’s injury details are unclear, and the… pic.twitter.com/zRmsMMJaHZ

— Patriot Vibe (@CopActivity) February 18, 2025

Watch live as @nycmayor, @nypdpc, and NYPD executives provide an update on an active investigation. https://t.co/zkCTK6LOeu

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 18, 2025