Malliotakis: Shooting of NYPD Officer was 100% Preventable

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) - Today Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) released the following statement regarding last night's shooting involving Rameek Smith, a career criminal residing in a homeless shelter on Staten Island, and two NYPD officers, one of whom was shot but expected to survive.

"Yet again, because of New York's botched bail reform law, a violent, career criminal, remained on our streets despite his extensive criminal record. Rameek Smith had been arrested nine times prior to last night's incident, most recently for a gun charge in Brooklyn. Following his arrest, Smith was released and his sentencing was pushed back several times, leaving him free to harm law enforcement or others in our community. Unfortunately, this is all too common in New York City where nine out of ten individuals caught with an illegal firearm are released back onto our streets.

"Last night's incident is the perfect example of why Staten Islanders and the majority of their elected officials oppose the three new homeless shelters the city is preparing to open in our borough. These shelters are meant for homeless individuals in need of temporary assistance, not violent, repeat offenders who continually wreak havoc and prey on innocent people.

"I join my colleagues and constituents in demanding the City be transparent about whom it intends to place in our local shelters and if they have criminal histories. Allowing dangerous perps to roam our streets under the guise of needing temporary shelter hurts the very people they are trying to help and puts our entire community at risk."