‘Sound’ judgment not enough

NYPD’s party-bust tips

The NYPD wants cops to think outside the boombox when it comes to breaking up loud parties.

A week after The Post revealed an NYPD directive that bars police from entering a noisy residence without homeowner permission or a warrant, the department is telling officers to look for more sinister behavior to gain a foot in the door.

“Although prohibited from enforcing based on noise alone, officers are not barred by enforcing other things, including underagedrinking and overcrowding,” the source said.

New, revised instructions will be issued to cops by Thursday, the source said.

Police Commissioner James O’Neill confirmed in a press conference Wednesday that the widely derided directive is being amended.

“I think we’re going to put out a revision shortly to make police officers have everything they need to do the job,” the top cops said.

The two-week-old directive, first reported by The Post, forbids cops from entering a residence solely in response to a noise complaint.

If officers are told to go away by the homeowner, cops have no other option than to simply let the party rock on and come back the next day to issue a noise summons, which typically carries a $250 fine.

The directive was sent to all NYPD commands after a string of costly, successful lawsuits against the city by residents who complained that cops barged into their homes without a warrant, often seizing stereo equipment in the process.

The order rankled NYPD brass and street cops alike. Detractors warned that neighborhoods will suffer from sleepless nights, trash and violence if unpoliced wild parties get too far out of control.

The high-ranking source confirmed that the updated guidance to be issued this week will address what had been essentially a “too negative” directive.

“The minute the memo came out, I said, ‘This is too negative.’ It says, ‘ This is what you can’t do,’ ” the source said.

“You [still] can’t forcibly enter,” the source added. “But there’s other things you can do if [the noise is] coupled with overcrowding. If it’s coupled with underage drinking.”

“We can’t break down the door, but most of the time they comply. The majority of people comply,” the source added.

Additional reporting by Laura Italiano