NYPD Officers Injured in Organized Snowball Fight, Police Launch Investigation
Police in New York City have launched a formal investigation after multiple officers sustained injuries during what began as a playful organized snowball fight in Washington Square Park on Monday, February 23, 2026. The incident, which attracted participants from across Manhattan following social media coordination, escalated when videos surfaced showing officers being deliberately targeted with snowballs.
Viral Videos Show Deliberate Targeting of Officers
Footage posted to the social media platform X reveals troubling scenes of law enforcement personnel being pelted with snowballs as they attempted to monitor the gathering. In one particularly concerning clip, an individual runs up to an officer and forcefully mashes snow onto his head, while another officer is seen rubbing his eye afterward, suggesting possible injury. Additional video evidence shows a large crowd throwing snowballs at a marked NYPD vehicle as officers exit a nearby van.
The event occurred during a record-breaking blizzard that blanketed the Northeast United States, with Central Park recording approximately half a meter (19.7 inches) of snowfall by Monday afternoon. This storm ranks among the most significant since 1869, according to weather reports from NBC New York.
Police Leadership Condemns 'Disgraceful and Criminal' Behavior
New York Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the incident directly on Monday night, stating that investigators were thoroughly examining the viral videos. "I want to be very clear: The behavior depicted is disgraceful and it is criminal," Tisch wrote in a social media post, emphasizing the department's serious approach to the matter.
The Detectives' Endowment Association, representing NYPD detectives, issued a strong statement through its president, Scott Munro. "What we saw in Washington Square Park today was not harmless fun — it was a deliberate, outrageous and dangerous attack on uniformed police officers," Munro declared on social media platforms.
The union has formally called upon Mayor Zohran Mamdani and District Attorney Alvin Bragg to ensure that every individual involved in throwing snowballs at officers faces appropriate criminal charges. "Make no mistake: Detectives will do what they always do. They will identify those involved and they will apprehend them," Munro asserted, adding that police officers "deserve to be safe, protected, and respected" for their daily service.
Mayor's Response Contrasts with Police Assessment
Mayor Zohran Mamdani offered a somewhat different perspective on Tuesday morning, suggesting he had seen videos primarily showing children throwing snowballs at officers. "Officers, like all city workers, have been out in a historic blizzard, keeping New Yorkers safe and cars moving," the mayor wrote on X. "Treat them with respect. If anyone's catching a snowball, it's me."
However, this characterization appears to downplay the severity of the incidents captured on video, which clearly show predominantly adult participants deliberately targeting law enforcement personnel. The discrepancy between the mayor's description and the visual evidence has raised questions about the official response to what police leadership considers criminal behavior.
The investigation continues as authorities work to identify individuals involved in the snowball attacks against NYPD officers during what was otherwise a community gathering turned confrontational event.
