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Sheriff and DOE Safety Office Outline Inspections, Seizures and Reporting Options for Vape and Illicit Product Sales Near Schools
Summary
New York City Sheriff's Office reported inspections, civil penalties and product seizures focused on illegal cannabis, THC vapes and flavored vapes near District 28 schools; sheriff provided a complaints email and phone line, and DOE described emergency readiness and reporting pathways.
New York City Sheriff's Office and the Department of Education's Office of Safety and Prevention Partnerships told Community Education Council 28 on Dec. 5 that they are stepping up inspections of retailers near schools, seizing illegal products and coordinating with multiple agencies to reduce youth access to illicit vapes and cannabis products.
Sheriff Anthony Miranda said the office has inspected "over 718 locations" in the local area, sealed 69 locations, issued civil penalties in excess of $4 million in the council's area, and seized products estimated at more than $1.5 million in value in the district alone. Citywide totals cited: more than $149 million in civil penalties and about $87 million in estimated seized product value.
"Any of these locations that are selling illegal cannabis or cigarettes or illegal vapes to anywhere near or to underage children should be reported immediately," Miranda said, and he gave a complaints address: smoke shop complaintswithans@sheriff.nyc.gov and a phone number (718) 707-2100; 311 will also forward complaints during business hours.
Why it matters: Parents and school leaders told the council that shops near schools sometimes re-open under new names after enforcement actions. Sheriff Miranda said repeat inspections and landlords being notified are part of the strategy; district attorneys may pursue cases where landlords or operators repeatedly re-open in violation.
DOE safety, drills and reporting Mark Rapasan, director of security for the DOE's safety office, outlined the department's General Response Protocol (GRP) and supports for schools: a "clear/lockdown/shelter in/evacuation/hold" framework, age-appropriate trauma-informed drills (12 required each year, including four lockdown drills), posters and classroom guidance, school crisis teams, suicide prevention liaisons, and counseling resources. He described on-site and citywide mental-health resources and a Respect for All (bullying) reporting portal.
Rapasan said schools are required to have Respect for All liaisons and a QR-code reporting option; the DOE's Respect for All email is respectforall@inschools.nyc.gov and a hotline (718) 935-2288 was cited for weekday hours. He encouraged parents and principals to use precinct commanders and DOE partners for coordinated responses.
Discussion and community concerns Parents and council members expressed frustration that shops close and re-open under new names near school entrances. Sheriff Miranda said different laws and enforcement tools apply to cannabis shops versus illegal cigarettes and flavored vapes; cannabis-location sealing is available in some cases after repeated violations, while cigarette/vape enforcement typically uses notices of violation and seizures. He said landlords are notified and that the office collaborates with DA offices when further legal action is appropriate.
Ending Sheriff Miranda and DOE staff said they would remain available for school and parent presentations and asked community members to forward evidence and complaints via the provided email and phone numbers so enforcement and inspection teams can act.
