A video circulating online shows an NYPD officer shooting basketball in the backyard of a Brooklyn home while firefighters battled a four-alarm blaze on the top floor.
The incident, recorded on March 21, 2024, at a three-story residence on East 3rd Street in Flatbush, shows the officer, in uniform, attempting a long-range shot as the fire raged.
The officer missed the shot, with the basketball veering wide and hitting the side of the house.
FDNY posted on X with details of the blaze.
‘At 5:43 Friday evening, the FDNY received a report of fire at 413 E 3rd Street in Brooklyn,’ the post read.
‘Units found heavy fire on the first floor and the fire quickly escalated to a fourth alarm due to a high winds.’
‘One person was critically injured and transported to the hospital.’
The video, posted on Instagram by WhatIsNewYork, has drawn criticism, with an anonymous police officer quoted by the NY Post calling the behavior ‘reprehensible.’
A video circulating online shows an NYPD officer shooting basketball in the backyard of a Brooklyn home while firefighters battled a four-alarm blaze on the top floor
The incident, recorded on March 21, 2024, at a three-story residence on East 3rd Street in Flatbush, shows the officer, in uniform, attempting a long-range shot as the fire raged
FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker praised the firefighters’ efforts, noting they faced challenging conditions, including high winds and a partial building collapse.
He confirmed one person sustained critical injuries.
The individual’s current condition is unknown.
They have yet to reveal the identity of the officer.
Comments on the video also expressed dismay at the officer’s actions and basketball skills, with some providing comedic relief to the situation.
One user sarcastically commented, ‘If I make this one, I’ll go save them,’ mocking the officer’s perceived lack of urgency.
‘AI could never make a video as funny as this,’ said one user.
‘He’s obviously a cop, not a fireman,’ wrote another user.
‘At 5:43 Friday evening, the FDNY received a report of fire at 413 E 3rd Street in Brooklyn,’ FDNY reported
Units encountered heavy first-floor fire, which rapidly escalated to a fourth alarm due to high winds
One person has sustained critical injuries
‘All that air alone could put that fire out!’ quipped another.
‘Protecting, but not serving,’ chimed a user.
This debacle comes after it was revealed exclusively on DailyMail.com that an NYPD Special Victims Unit detective, Melissa Mercado, is featured in a viral hip-hop music video, ‘Doin That,’ performing in lingerie at a strip club and receiving dollar bills.
The video, released in February, shows her dancing with artist S-Quire, who was unaware of her profession.
S-Quire, real name Phabian Winfield, expressed surprise upon learning Mercado’s identity, knowing her only by her nickname, Honeybee.
The video has amassed 1.2 million views on YouTube where it was posted by World Star Hip Hop, and 1.1 million on S-Quire’s Instagram page.
Mercado’s video and social media photos have become widely shared within the NYPD. She deactivated her Instagram account as the video went viral.
The NYPD has not addressed potential disciplinary action.
