600 NYPD Police Officers Consider Leaving the Force
With the violent attacks directed at the US police officers, Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik claimed as much as 600 NYPD officers have considered leaving the force.
In an interview on Fox News’s “Justice with Judge Jeanine,” the retired police commissioner said that more than 300 NYPD officers had been injured during the violent riots, as protesters ransacked, burned, and looted several stores and buildings in the Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhood. “Well, you’ve had over 300—I think about 320—that have been injured, I think some in the hospital,’” Kerik said.
The former commissioner believed that adding in the injuries to the talks of New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio’s promise to cut down the police department’s $6 billion budget, made it difficult for the police force. In fact, as much as 600 officers are planning to either resign or retire. “And the thing that scares me … I’m hearing close to 600 cops have either put in their papers or they’re talking to the [NYPD] about resigning or retiring,” Kerik continued.
What’s worse is that New York’s bail reform law allowed rioters to be immediately set free after their arrests. Even Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance also refused to side with the police and decided not to prosecute “low-level” rioters. In a statement, Vance announced that only those who were directly involved in the violent riots are going to face charges. Currently, there are 36,000 NYPD police officers who were tasked to serve New York City’s 8.4 million residents.
However, the attacks are not only limited to physical violence but as well as psychological threats. In Houston, Texas, authorities discovered a sickening graffiti of a police officer hanging by a noose at the side of a commercial building. The graffiti painted after violent riots in the Bayou City broke out against the death of George Floyd.
The owner of the tattoo and piercing parlor, “290 Ink” immediately removed the graffiti. On Saturday morning, Houston Police Officers’ Union President Joe Gamaldi took on to social media to express his anger and disgust. Gamaldi posted the picture of the police graffiti on Facebook, saying that “We are better than this Houston. Also, the dirtbag who painted this didn’t even get our uniform shirt right.”
He acknowledged that “We realize emotions are running high, but this solves nothing and helps nothing.” Gamaldi also thanked the store owner for removing the “horrible” graffiti. He also denied the accusations of police brutality by saying that it does not represent 99.9% of Americans. Finally, the police union president asked the community to help to report the person behind the hateful crime, adding that, “we will not let hate run our city. We are #HoustonStrong.”
Fortunately, there have also been signs that the protests have gradually subsided. In a Twitter post, President Donald Trump announced that he had withdrawn the National Guard in Washington DC, after violent riots took place last week, which led to the burning of the St. John’s Episcopal church in the White House.
Trump concluded that the situation was not as worse as they had expected, but warned that he would send the troops back if the protest became violent again.
Much smaller crowd in D.C. than anticipated. National Guard, Secret Service, and D.C. Police have been doing a fantastic job. Thank you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020
I have just given an order for our National Guard to start the process of withdrawing from Washington, D.C., now that everything is under perfect control. They will be going home, but can quickly return, if needed. Far fewer protesters showed up last night than anticipated!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 7, 2020