Cops park it in drug den
Patrol Wash. Sq. after Post exposé
Police beefed up patrols of Washington Square Park Friday after The Post revealed it’s become a hangout for aggressive junkies.
A police van began driving around the area at 7 a.m. and two officers on foot stationed themselves in the northwest corner of the park — the spot where about 20 strung-out vagrants were seen the previous day dealing drugs and urinating on trees.
The presence of the cops — who residents say had ignored the problem — kept many, but not all, of the junkies at bay.
But resident John Zipay, 63, hopes police will remain vigilant in the area, especially with a fresh crop of college kids coming as NYU prepares to resume classes after the summer break.
“If I was an undercover police officer, I could arrest half the people over there,” he said, referring to the junkies.
Ingracia Martinez believes Washington Square Park has become sleazier since Bill de Blasio became mayor.
“It’s looking like the ’80s lately,” said Martinez, 24. “If [cops] are not being told to do anything from higher up, they’re not going to do anything.”
With police watching Friday, Parks Department workers were able to safely clean up the druggies’ garbage.
On Thursday, a Parks Department worker admitted he and his colleagues didn’t like to clean the area because the vagrants openly smoke crack.
Local resident Anita Picker said, “I can’t believe this stuff is still happening. I’m not saying it’s de Blasio, but I have to say there are more people sleeping in and on the streets than I noticed in the prior two administrations.”
The NYPD admitted receiving more complaints about that area of the park and a spokesman promised additional cops will be assigned.
But the junkies were unimpressed.
Two men approached a Post photographer Friday and began cursing in full view of the cops. “I’ll beat your f--king a-- if you take a picture of me,” one of the men said.
As the man continued to scream, the police walked away.
“You shouldn’t be here,” one vagrant told the photographer. “These cops won’t even be able to help you. Some of the guys here are really pissed off. You should leave. I’m just warning you.”
Later, a cop was overheard joking with the vagrants, saying, “I know everybody, I’ve been working here 14 years.”
Andres Vlez, 20, who works in the area, said, “The hard drugs that are being used is really sad. I just think they need to do more about it. It’s definitely the cops’ responsibility.”