New York police officer suspended from work for supporting Trump: what happened

A NYPD officer spoke the words "Trump 2020" using a loudspeaker in a police car. For this he was suspended from work. The incident attracted the attention of the mayor and townspeople. The details are shared by the publication NBC News.

In New York, a police officer was suspended from work without pay after he shouted "Trump 2020" using a loudspeaker from his patrol car. The incident took place on the evening of October 24.

A video posting of the incident was posted on the NYPD's official Twitter account. The police department then reported that a South Brooklyn investigation team had taken up the case.

We are aware of this video and it is under investigation by our Brooklyn South Investigation Unit.

Police officers must remain political. https://t.co/a3XyWCNceb

- NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) October 25, 2020

New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea commented on the incident, calling it "XNUMX% unacceptable." “Law enforcement must remain apolitical, in our role it is important to serve all New Yorkers, regardless of their political convictions,” Shea said.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio also commented on the incident on his account in Twitter on Sunday. “Let me be clear: any NYPD officer pushing any political agenda while on duty will face consequences,” the mayor said. "We will act quickly and we will not tolerate it."

On Sunday afternoon, New York City police said the officer had been suspended from work without pay immediately and that he was under investigation.

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Two videos were circulated on the web. In the first, an officer shouts "Trump 2020" over the loudspeaker, after which the foul language of a person who appears to be in conflict with the officer and tells him to "repeat it" is heard. “Trump 2020,” the officer said again into the loudspeaker.

It is unclear what happened before the videos were taken.

The author of the video called the officer a "fascist".

In the NYPD patrol headquarters, supporting a political candidate or exchanging personal views with people in uniform or on duty are prohibited conduct.

This incident took place in the Flatbush area of ​​Brooklyn. Early face-to-face voting also began on Saturday in New York, in which thousands of residents in five boroughs found themselves at polling stations.

Another video was posted by Brandon Hines. The video was filmed by his roommate from the window of their apartment. “Trump 2020,” the officer said after being asked to repeat what was said earlier. - Post it to YouTube, post it to Facebook. Trump 2020 ".

Hynes, who has lived in Flatbush since 2013, confirmed that he and his roommate witnessed the incident. He heard a noise around 10pm Saturday night and went to see what was happening there. “It's not even about Trump 2020, I just went to make sure people were safe,” Hines said.

The 34-year-old said the summer protests against the backdrop of the death of George Floyd changed the energy at Prospect Park. For the first time he saw how a policeman, using his position, taunts passers-by.

The New York City Police Benevolent Association (PBA), one of the largest police unions representing New York officers, approved President Donald Trump's re-election bid back in August. On Tuesday, the union responded to concerns about police impartiality as "hysterical bullshit" in response to a question whether the police could be trusted to keep things calm after the elections. “The union endorses candidates every year,” reads a tweet. "Every year, New York City police defend the right of all voters to vote peacefully."

Hines does not know why the officer chose to send a political message using police equipment while on duty. He believes that the city's condemnation of the incident should not be verbal. “It's all about the action,” Hynes said. - People can say whatever they want in 2020, but everyone is waiting for action. Everyone is watching. "

There was another incident in Miami on Saturday night last week. There, the officer received disciplinary action after being photographed at the polling station wearing a uniform and a Trump 2020 face mask.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said the officer was voting at this time. But Steve Simeonidis, chairman of the Miami-Dade Democrats, who shared the photo on Twitter, accused the officer of intimidating voters.

Suarez did not answer the question of reporters about whether this action was illegal, but called it inappropriate and violating the policy of the department.