On December 23, the New York Police Department (NYPD) announced it would investigate an incident where officers were pelted with snowballs while responding to a disruption in Washington Square Park. The event occurred amidst a snowstorm that blanketed the northeast United States. Videos of the incident quickly spread on social media, drawing widespread attention and criticism from various political figures and organizations.

The NYPD officers were called to the scene to manage the growing crowd, which had engaged in throwing snowballs at the police. Some officers, including those who were inadvertently targeted in the face, experienced the brunt of this unusual confrontation. Following the event, the Chief of the NYPD, Jassica Tisch, took to social media emphasizing that the behavior seen in the videos was unacceptable and would be thoroughly investigated. The incident sparked outbursts from the Police Benevolent Association, which branded the actions as "unacceptable and outrageous."

As the investigation unfolds, local politicians, including Mayor Zohran Mamdani, have remained relatively silent, yet the incident raises questions about community-police relations and public safety in urban parks, particularly during crowded winter events. This situation underscores both the potential tensions that can arise during public gatherings and the broader implications for law enforcement in managing such gatherings, especially in a city recently impacted by severe winter weather.