Internal NYPD memo: ‘Elevated vigilance’ needed during midterm elections

The NYPD says “elevated vigilance” is needed during the upcoming midterm elections, as “hostile rhetoric” and “generalized threats” swirl on online forums, according to an internal memo obtained by The Post. 

The department’s intelligence bureau said that it is not aware of any specific, credible threats to the candidates, election workers or any of the city’s 1,107 public polling sites that are open between Oct. 29 and Nov. 8. 

But the officials warned that “malicious actors” in chat and messaging groups, as well as other forums, may create “echo chambers” that promote “false narratives” and “establish a permissive environment for violent action against election-related infrastructure and personnel.” 

The NYPD’s intelligence bureau warned of “malicious actors” in chat and messaging groups as the midterm elections approach. Stephen Yang

The memo cited calls on “far-right, ultranationalist, and QAnon extremist forums” for their followers to become “poll challengers” if they witness “fraud” and “cheating” at the polls.

The forums have encouraged violence, intimidation tactics and tampering with voting machines, according to the memo. 

The NYPD is not aware of any specific, credible threats as the midterm elections approach. Christopher Sadowski

The memo also cited the July attack on US Rep. Lee Zeldin, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, allegedly by troubled Army vet David Jakubonis at a campaign event in Rochester.

Jakubonis has since been sprung from jail pending trial on federal charges and was court-ordered to attend an in-patient alcohol treatment program.