Bratton Puts End to Raids at UWS Homeless Shelter View Full Caption

UPPER WEST SIDE — Weeks after local police announced they would conduct more raids at a homeless shelter following the arrests of 22 people during a May sweep, NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said the controversial practice had ended.

On May 23, the 24th Precinct oversaw a pre-dawn raid on Freedom House, the shelter housing 400 homeless adults on West 95th Street, arresting 22 residents with outstanding warrants with the cooperation of the Department of Homeless Services.

"When I saw that I had concerns about that," Bratton said in response to questions about the raid at a press conference at One Police Plaza Wednesday.

He added that the policy was "well-intended, but it's something I'm not supportive of...That policy of that precinct has ended."

The precinct's commanding officer, Capt. Marlon Larin, previously said that in addition to more raids at Freedom House, he would sweep other area shelters for individuals with warrants out for their arrest. He said Wednesday he "had not been told anything yet" about a change in policy, noting he couldn't comment further as he was responding to a bank robbery.

The homeless advocacy group Picture the Homeless planned to hold a rally Wednesday night in front of the shelter to protest the raids, calling for more "effective community-based solutions," instead.