US1 min(s) read
Published 16:58 26 Oct 2020 GMT
An NYPD officer was suspended yesterday, (October 25) after footage emerged of him defiantly repeating, "Trump 2020" on his patrol car's loudspeaker while on duty in Brooklyn.
As reported by BuzzFeed News, the officer in question was not identified by the NYPD, but the department did reveal that he had been suspended without pay.
This was the moment President Donald Trump said there was something "very beautiful" about watching protesters being "pushed around":
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"The police officer who is under investigation for using a department vehicle’s loudspeaker for political purposes has been suspended, effective immediately," the NYPD tweeted yesterday afternoon.
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"When you wear our uniform it is imperative to remain apolitical," NYPD Chief Terence Monahan tweeted. "Behavior like this will not be tolerated and will be dealt with."
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The department began an investigation into the incident yesterday after two videos emerged online the previous day, showing the officer repeating the mantra.
In one of the videos, shared by Twitter user Brandon Hines, the cop is heard saying:
"Trump 2020. Put it on YouTube, put it on Facebook. Trump 2020. Take a picture, take a picture, take a video. Put it on your Facebook, put it in your YouTube. Have some fun."
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According to the NYPD's official policy, officers are prohibited from "endorsing political candidates or publicly expressing personal views and opinions concerning the merits of any political party or candidate for public office" while on duty or in uniform.
Journalist Talia Jane shared another video that was filmed by an unidentified man:
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The man, according to Jane, had shown the patrol car his middle finger as it was blocking a crosswalk. This was when an officer in the passenger seat yelled expletives at the man.
Following an argument, the officer allegedly showed the man his middle finger. It was then that an officer on the driver's side yelled "Trump 2020" and threatened to arrest the man for blocking traffic.
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The man briefly left the site, but when he came back, the officer used the patrol car's speaker to say "Trump 2020", following an antagonistic interaction between the pair.
"Do it again," the man can be heard telling the officer.
"What... you can't say 'Trump 2020' now you f**king p***y? Say it again," the man tells the officer.
"Trump 2020," the officer says again.
"Go f**k yourself, you f**king fascist," the man tells the officer.
