Police union slams 'hypocritical' NYPD for suspending cop who blared 'Trump 2020' from squad car loudspeaker - after chief of department was praised for taking a knee with BLM protesters
One of New York City's top police unions accused NYPD top brass of hypocrisy for suspending a cop who blared 'Trump 2020' over a squad car loudspeaker - after the department's highest-ranking uniformed officer was praised for his public show of support for Black Lives Matter protesters.
The unnamed cop was suspended without pay after his boisterous endorsement of President Donald Trump in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood on Saturday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio, Commissioner Dermot Shea, and Chief of Department Terrence Monahan condemned the officer's behavior as '100 percent unacceptable', stressing cops must remain 'apolitical'.
The Sergeants Benevolent Association decried the suspension on Twitter, writing: 'The NYPD has a history of officers making political & outside the norm statements & ignoring it. Suspending this officer is unnecessary & way over the top.'
'Chief of Department took a knee with protesters no disciplinary action was issued,' the union added, referencing how Monahan knelt alongside Black Lives Matter protesters during a demonstration on June 1.
The Sergeants Benevolent Association accused NYPD top brass of hypocrisy for suspending a cop who blared 'Trump 2020' over a squad car loudspeaker - after Chief of Department Terrence Monahan was praised for kneeling with Black Lives Matter protesters in June
The SBA tweeted a photo of Monahan kneeling with Black Lives Matter protesters and wrote: 'Whats the status of this investigation? Oh wait, double standard white shirt immunity!'
The unnamed NYPD officer was suspended without pay after he and a fellow officer were filmed 'Trump 2020' from a patrol car loudspeaker in Brooklyn on Saturday night
The SBA also retweeted a post in which Monahan wrote: 'When you wear our uniform it is imperative to remain apolitical. Behavior like this will not be tolerated and will be dealt with.'
The union added a photo of Monahan kneeling at the June protest, writing: 'What's the status of this investigation? Oh wait double standard white shirt immunity!
'Terence you said nothing when Captains & Chiefs took a knee with violent protesters who injured members of the NYPD. You say nothing to those who sing & dance in uniform.
'Now your little itsy-bitsy balls are in DeBlasio's palm & you tweet nonsense. Relax & take a knee!'
The SBA also praised the suspended officer, saying that police are 'rightfully' supporting the president.
'The Democratic Party has abandoned police officers, encouraged violence and lawlessness. People are being murdered in Democratic run cities,' the union wrote in a tweet tagging the president and his sons Eric and Don Jr.
Monahan condemned the suspended officer's actions in a tweet on Sunday
The SBA praised the suspended officer, saying that police are 'rightfully' supporting Trump
Monahan is seen hugging a BLM activist during a demonstration in New York City on June 1
The incident that sparked the suspension took place on Saturday around 9.50pm when two officers were filmed standing outside a patrol vehicle on St Paul Street in Flatbush and a man yelled at them saying: 'F*** yourselves you f***ing fascists.'
One of the officers was then heard through the patrol speaker saying: 'Trump 2020. Put it on YouTube. Put it on Facebook. Trump 2020.'
'Take a picture, take a picture, put it on Facebook, put it on YouTube, have some fun,' the officer added sarcastically.
Brandon Hines, 34, watched the scene unfold from his apartment and his roommate recorded it.
He said the cops started to say Trump 2020 when a pedestrian gave the cop the middle finger because their car was in the crosswalk.
'We went to the window just to make sure whoever he was talking to was safe. And this is not the first time we had an issue of cops using the bullhorn in the neighborhood,' Hines told the New York Daily News.
'I'm just your average gay black guy but I've been stopped and frisked twice on my block. This is a predominantly black community and there is obviously that beef between cops and the community . . . It goes back a long long time.
'It's been a whole summer of this but this is the first time I heard the police officers endorsing or say they were going to be voting for Trump 2020,' he added.
In the video a man yells at the officers 'F*** yourselves you f***ing fascists'. One of the officers is then heard through the patrol speaker saying: 'Trump 2020. Put it on YouTube. Put it on Facebook. Trump 2020'. A view of the two officers above
It's not immediately clear who the officers involved in the incident were
The NYPD caught wind of the display and posted on Twitter: 'The police officer who is under investigation for using a department vehicle's loudspeaker for political purposes has been suspended, effective immediately.'
Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Shea were quick to condemn the officers' actions.
'Let me be clear: ANY NYPD Officer pushing ANY political agenda while on duty will face consequences. We will act fast here, and this will not be tolerated,' de Blasio tweeted Sunday afternoon.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and the police commissioner have blasted the incident and condemned the officers involved. 'Let me be clear: ANY NYPD Officer pushing ANY political agenda while on duty will face consequences. We will act fast here, and this will not be tolerated,' he shared Sunday afternoon
A spokesperson for the mayor, Bill Neidhardt, said an investigation launched Sunday would be completed by the end of the day.
'We will have quick consequences today that will send a clear message,' Neidhardt said.
Commissioner Shea blasted the incident as 'one hundred percent unacceptable'.
'Law Enforcement must remain apolitical, it is essential in our role to serve ALL New Yorkers regardless of any political beliefs. It is essential for New Yorkers to trust their Police,' Shea said.
The Police Benevolent Association, New York's largest police union endorsed Trump for re-election in August.
However the NYPD prohibits on-duty cops from 'endorsing political candidates or publicly expressing personal views and opinions concerning the merits of any political party or candidate for office.'
NYPD commissioner Dermot Shea blasted the incident as 'one hundred percent unacceptable', saying cops must 'remain apolitical'