A New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) employee was arrested on Monday morning for allegedly possessing a loaded gun in East Harlem, according to the NYPD.
The incident occurred at around 9:40 am when officers responded to a call about suspicious activity happening inside one of NYCHA’s buildings. Upon arrival, they found an on-duty NYCHA employee with a loaded gun in his possession.
The suspect has been identified as 42-year-old David Reyes, who works as a caretaker at the Jefferson Houses development located on First Avenue near East 115th Street. He has been working for the NYCHA since 2013 and is responsible for maintaining the building’s facilities.
Police recovered a .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with seven rounds from Reyes. He was immediately taken into custody and is facing charges of criminal possession of a weapon, as well as unlawful possession of ammunition.
In response to the incident, NYCHA released a statement saying, “We take these allegations very seriously, and we are cooperating fully with law enforcement in their investigation. The safety and security of our residents is our top priority.”
This is not the first time an on-duty NYCHA employee has been arrested for possessing a gun. In 2019, two employees were arrested within a span of three months for similar offenses.
According to data from the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI), there have been 36 reported arrests of NYCHA employees for various criminal offenses in the last five years. These include charges of drug possession, assault, and even murder.
The DOI also found that there have been multiple instances of NYCHA employees using their positions to gain access to buildings for illegal activities, such as drug dealing.
These alarming statistics raise concerns about the hiring practices and oversight within the NYCHA. Residents living in NYCHA developments deserve to feel safe and protected by those who are employed to maintain their homes.
As this case continues to unfold, it is important for the NYCHA to take swift action in reviewing their employee policies and ensuring proper background checks are conducted for all employees. The safety of residents should always be a top priority.
So far, Reyes has been suspended from his duties without pay pending an investigation into the matter. The NYCHA must also work towards creating a culture of accountability and transparency to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
