Two NYPD cops attached to the departments legal affairs bureau were allegedly assaulted on the Brooklyn Bridge , supposedly during a peaceful march over the weekend. The two, Patrick Sullivan and Phillip Chan are both Lieutenants. The pair were supposedly wearing NYPD jackets with identification and were there to ensure protesters rights were protected , as reported by CBS.com and the Associated Press.
Which brings us to ask why are special cops there to ensure citizens fundamental right to protest against their government? Aren’t all cops supposed to be particularly alerted and informed on that fact? What happens when legal affairs is not there?
I believe we all know what happens when they are not.
The NYPD has since arrested Eric Linkser a 29-year-old Baruch College Professor who teaches Composition. Notice how quickly they arrested someone who allegedly attacked one of their own? The Commissioner William Bratton said quote: “We do not take attacks on our police officers lightly, we never have and never will,”. I bet New Yorkers of color would like that sense of resoluteness when it comes to police violence on them.
The Department says there are others involved in the alleged attack , which they say occurred when the two cops intervened when Linkser allegedly tried to toss a 50-pound garbage can from the elevated walkway at officers on the roadway below. They are supposedly putting together a twelve thousand dollar ($12,000.00 reward to ferret out others involved in the assault.
The young man who videotaped NYPD cops killing Eric Garner was arrested on weapons charges, rather conveniently after the video became public. Pantaleo the cop who killed Garner and the other murderers who aided and abetted him have so far faced no criminal sanctions.
In responding to the incident New York City’s Mayor Bill deBlasio called the incident an “alleged assault” That characterization drew the ire of the sergeants benevolent association. Union president Ed Mullins labeled the Mayor a “nincompoop”. The PBA president Patrick Lynch who encouraged members to sign a petition demanding that the Mayor and city Council president not attend their funeral in the event they are killed in the line of duty, said “It is very clear to me that the mayor has no idea of just how angry New York City police officers are at him for his lack of support and for laying decades of society’s problems undeservedly at their feet.”
Does anyone recall when Rudolph Giuliani led a rag-tag throng of drunken cops in 1992 onto the steps of City Hall in protest against Mayor David Dinkins? Yup, they called Dinkins a N****r, they called him a wash-room attendant. Do you detect the same kind of disrespect to this Mayor who is married to a black woman ?
In 2007 the New York daily news Mike Mcalary wrote ” This city has two police forces: one small and horrible, and one great and noble. People see the uniform and figure all cops are part of the horror. That’s not true. In the 1820s, the city had two police forces, and they fought on the steps of City Hall. That police riot occurred when one force tried to arrest the mayor. The closest we’ve come to that was when Giuliani encouraged a police mob to rattle then-Mayor David Dinkins in 1992”.
The department is actively seeking others involved in the mele. Bratton said the video of the assaults has been enhanced to help find the suspects. Isn’t it incredible how quickly they will enhance a shaky video to prove someone attacked one of their own but will not acknowledge they murdered an innocent man on a video which needed no enhancement ?
I don’t know whether or not there are two police forces in new york city., Many people of color have never seen the noble department Mike Mcalarry spoke of seven years ago, even though they are decent law abiding citizens.
What they see daily is the “horrible” the one above the law, the thuggish one which demands respect even as it heaps scorn, derision ‚contempt and disrespect on others, even those set above them.
Every grouse, every gripe of the PBA and other unions seem to be about respect. The unions would do themselves and their members a tremendous service by being respectful to the Mayor, City Council President and people of color in the city, maybe then they will see a turn around in the way people respond to them.
As a very famous Pastor say from time to time,“If you want something from God, give that thing to someone else”. Give respect, you get respect. You do not demand respect , you command respect. Stop whining and complaining about just how dangerous your job is . No one forced you to join the police department, you did so of your own free will, and you are paid well to do it.
People have a right to demand that they be treated fairly and justly, the laws does not only apply when the police say they apply.
If utterances and behavior are anything to go by, this police department is exponentially worse than most people know. People in under served communities will tell you they do not call cops. Cops to them are no different from regular gangsters. Many rob, beat, rape, steal, plant drugs, falsify reports and kill people without consequence.
These residents of the city have never seen the “great and noble”.
Too many in the NYPD see themselves above the laws and the people who hire and pay them. The media Houses are active cheer-leaders in this process, making them feel above being held accountable. It is time the back of this mentality is broken once and for all.