New York – The police officer who screamed at an Uber driver and made racially charged comments in an obscenity-laced tirade has been identified as Patrick Cherry.
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Cherry is a detective with top secret security clearance assigned to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, reports CNN (http://cnn.it/1BQARbx). Cherry now faces possible suspension as the Internal Affairs Bureau investigates the incident.
The driver of the car and focus of the verbal lashing is expected to testify in front of the Civilian Complaint Review Board according to CBS New York (http://cbsloc.al/1FhBFJX).
Vin News previously reported news of the video, where Cherry was caught on video screaming at the Uber driver as one of the two passengers, Sanjay Seth, recorded it all (http://bit.ly/1Cxcths) and uploaded it to YouTube.
Cherry mocked the driver’s accent, slammed his door and threatened to arrest him for allegedly breaking three traffic laws.
The altercation began when the driver honked and gestured at the Cherry to use his blinker when he was parking; the passengers said he didn’t use it.
Seth told CNN he will also testify at the Civilian Complaint Review Board Wednesday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said there should be no tolerance for that kind of behavior among police officers.
WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT:
In the agency where I work the officer would be relieved of duty pending a termination hearing…but there again, we’re a mere state agency not in NY…and certainly don’t rank with helige NYPD.
A rare occurrence of police oversight for one reason: it was recorded and went viral. I wonder for every one that is, how many are not.
Dear police, thank you for the amazing work you do protecting all of us. However that does NOT mean you are above the law, and can do or say whatever you feel like.
The real question is how many of these incidents of police harassment, intimidation and worse aren’t caught on tape.
Detective Patrick Cherry is toast; he is being thrown out of the Joint Terrorism Task Force; he has been stripped of his gun and badge, and officially belongs to the “rubber band squad”. He will also be suspended for 90 days without pay, causing him a loss of thousands of dollars of pay. Last, he will be assigned to an ordinary precinct detective squad, far from his home. He will be so inconvenienced, that he will be forced to submit his retirement papers. He is a disgrace, and an embarrassment to the NYPD. Although these kinds of incidents are quite common in the NYPD, Cherry made the mistake of being caught. The PC and the Mayor, as well as Internal Afffairs, are not going to stand for this kind of outrageous conduct! Detective Cherry, don’t let the door hit you on the way out.