These are signs of trouble.
Two uniformed police officers from the Bronx have been photographed displaying what appear to be hand signs associated with the Mac Baller Brims, a notorious subset of the Bloods, known as NYC’s most dangerous gang, according to The Post.
The photo, which has gone viral and is now under investigation by the NYPD, seems to have been captured at a McDonald’s, showing two officers in masks standing with an unidentified young man.
In the image, one officer is seen pointing his fingers downward, crossing his middle finger over his ring finger, a gesture linked to the Mac Baller Brims.
The second officer is also displaying what seems to be a gang sign, bending back his index finger while extending the other three fingers.
Eric Sanders, a lawyer and former NYPD officer, confirmed the authenticity of the signs.
“Those are Mac Baller Brim signs,” he noted. “The officers involved need to be placed on modified duty.”
Kevin O’Connor, retired NYPD Assistant Commissioner of Youth Strategies, agreed that the officers were attempting to make gang signs, though not very successfully.
“It appears they’re trying to make Blood signs,” he remarked. “The officer on the right seems to be attempting the Mac Baller sign.
“Consider the context of the photo,” he added. “The kid is wearing blue, so were they just joking with him?” The Bloods are known for favoring red, while their rivals, the Crips, prefer blue.
The controversial photo was shared on Instagram on May 4 by a user named michaelclancy1312. The account did not respond to requests for comment, and the original source of the image remains unknown.
“Officers dressed in balaclavas and beanies, making gang signs and posing like street enforcers with a civilian in a fast-food setting,” an X user named BrooklynP8triot wrote, sharing the image.
“This isn’t community policing; it’s cosplay for the very criminals they’re supposed to deter.
“NYC, @NYCMayor, and @GovKathyHochul — who exactly are you hiring for the NYPD?” the post continues.
Many officers were appalled by the photo, which has been widely shared and liked on X.
“It’s a complete disgrace,” one Bronx officer commented. “Even as a joke, this picture tarnishes the department’s efforts in combating gangs.”
A law enforcement source claimed the officers were merely joking.
“They recognized a kid they knew and were joking in the photo. They never expected it to go viral,” the source explained.
One of the officers, identified as Shane Cruz, has served since 2024 and was part of the 43rd Precinct in Soundview until February when he was moved to the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville, Brooklyn, according to records.
The identity of the second officer, also from the 43rd Precinct, remains unknown as his shield number is not visible in the photo.
Cruz could not be reached for comment, but a source said his transfer was unrelated to the incident.
“This incident is under internal review,” a police spokesperson stated, referring to an Internal Affairs Bureau investigation.
The Mac Baller Brims, established in the Bronx in 2001, are the largest subset of the West Coast Bloods gang, notorious for racketeering, drug trafficking, and violent crimes.
They are regarded as one of the city’s most violent gangs.
The name ‘Mac’ pays homage to high-ranking member O.G. Mack, who founded the Bloods in 1993. ‘Baller’ denotes a high-ranking gang member or drug dealer, while ‘Brims’ signifies their connection to the original New York Blood Brim gang.
In 2023, the Mac Baller Brims were implicated in a series of bold gunpoint robberies at smoke shops in Chelsea, Union Square, and the West Village, according to prosecutors.
In 2019, 13 individuals were charged in connection with Mac Baller Brims-related violence, including murders and shootings, in the Mount Hope area of the Bronx between 2017 and 2019.
The Drug Enforcement Administration described the gang as “a criminal enterprise” engaging in illicit acts to maintain their power, territory, and profits.
Michael Alcazar, a former NYPD detective and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, mentioned that the department would likely scrutinize the officers’ backgrounds due to the viral photo.
“Displaying gang signs in uniform constitutes conduct unbecoming of an officer,” Alcazar noted.
“If they concealed any criminal history and it emerges that these officers were gang members, they might face termination,” he added. “However, it’s a different generation. They might be mimicking gang signs they saw in a rap video.”
The department has lowered recruitment standards for new police officers in recent years due to declining recruitment numbers.
Restrictions on candidates with minor marijuana arrests joining the NYPD were lifted in 2021 when the drug was legalized in the state. However, officers are prohibited from using marijuana and are randomly tested for all drugs.
They are also not allowed to associate with known criminals.
Last year, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reduced the required college credits for candidates from 60 to 24 to address a hiring crisis that saw 29% of applicants disqualified in 2023.
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