They might be tall and Italian like Bill de Blasio, but Big Apple monuments honoring Christopher Columbus are no longer getting round-the-clock police protection like the former mayor. The NYPD has quietly stopped its years-long practice of providing 24/7 bodyguard service for bronze sculptures in Manhattan’s Columbus Circle and Central Park honoring the famed but controversial explorer, sources said. 

Instead, it’s keeping tabs on the famed monuments – which have become popular targets of vandals the past five years — through newly installed security cameras and routine checks by local precincts, sources added. The statues had predominately been under heavy guard since the summer of 2020 when nationwide protests over police brutality following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota sparked renewed hatred against monuments honoring historical figures like Columbus who’ve been accused of oppressive acts.