The New York Police Department said Sunday it has suspended an officer without pay a day after he was seen on video saying “Trump 2020” over a patrol vehicle’s loudspeaker, a violation of department rules.
The suspension is effective immediately and the incident remains under investigation, the police department said.
Commissioner Dermot Shea tweeted that the behavior of the officer, whose name was not immediately made public, was “One hundred percent unacceptable. Period.” Officers must remain apolitical, he said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio promised swift action, tweeting: “ANY NYPD Officer pushing ANY political agenda while on duty will face consequences.
The department, in its Patrol Guide, prohibits officers from “endorsing political candidates or publicly expressing personal views and opinions” about candidates while on duty or in uniform.
A message seeking comment was left with the union representing patrol officers.
Videos posted on social media captured the officer bellowing his support of President Donald Trump from a marked police department SUV just before 10 p.m. Saturday. The vehicle was parked in a crosswalk with lights flashing in Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood.
“Trump 2020,” the officer is heard saying, taunting someone on the street who was recording him. “Put it on YouTube. Put it on Facebook. Trump 2020.”
The incident happened days after NYPD officials downplayed concerns that Trump’s support among law enforcement personnel, including a city police union’s endorsement, would impact how officers do their jobs — particularly when dealing with people voting or protesting against the president.
“When we put on this uniform, we are apolitical,” Chief of Department Terence Monahan said. “We have no stance in one way or another.”
The Police Benevolent Association, the city’s largest police union, threw its support behind Trump in August.
Trump, a Republican, has campaigned for reelection on a law-and-order agenda, portraying himself as a counterweight to the police reform protests that erupted across the U.S. in recent months.
Many police officers also support Trump, viewing him as more of an ally to their pro-police “Blue Lives Matter” and “Back the Blue” movements than his Democratic rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.
A Miami police officer could face suspension after he was photographed last week at an early voting site wearing a blue, white and red Trump 2020 mask while in uniform.
De Blasio, a Democrat, said last week that he didn’t think New York City police officers would let their personal political views bleed into their professional responsibilities.
“You’re going to have police officers that have views across the spectrum, but I also think we’ve seen overwhelmingly officers leave their politics at home and they go and do what has to be done to keep people safe and to respect peaceful protest,” de Blasio said at a news briefing last Tuesday.
“Any officer who can’t or won’t do that we have to discipline and we have to address, but I don’t get an indication that that is a widespread challenge.”
(AP)
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6 Responses
Look at the pig who is condemning! He could paint BLM on a city street, a serious violation and doesn’t get called out on it! What a double standard!
How ironic, as police officers must push deblasios agendas, such as locking the parks where Jewish kids play.
I bet nothing would of happened if this cop would of said Biden 2020.
I guess cops should disobey in unison if asked to implement deblasios crazy orders.
but of course this filthy America hating communist swine would have no problem with saluting Antifa or BLM
This is why civics lessons are important! One of the cornerstones of American democracy is the apolitical military, judicial, and law enforcement. A judge cannot wear a MAGA hat or a Biden hat while in court, same with military and law enforcement while on duty. However, BLM (whatever your opinion of it may be) is completely different because it is a protest movement and NOT a political party.
And what is a mayor? Same as BLM? Or is he on duty “serving the city”???? Then how can he salute and cheer on BLM rioters and paint murals like a street vagabond??? This is supposed to be our leadership?!!!
@thehonesttruth You really don’t get it, do you? Mayor, Governor, President are all elected POLITICAL posts. Military, law enforcement, and judiciary must be APOLITICAL for a democracy to function. Otherwise, you get Stalin’s and Putin’s Russia, Hitler’s Germany, etc.