Conflicting outrage hit social media after two clips posted by Twitter account @NYScanner amassed hundreds of thousands of views earlier this week.
The first piece of footage, posted Monday afternoon, captured an incident that occurred two blocks from the NYPD’s 73rd Precinct station house in Harlem and showed civilians pouring water on officers’ heads while they arrested a man.
One officer is even seen being pelted in the head with a bucket. The cops are not seen reacting to either of the acts on-camera.
RESTRAINT pic.twitter.com/MhvXjceiI6
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) July 22, 2019
It’s worth noting @NYScanner is not affiliated with the NYPD and is operated by a third party.
Another clip emerged from the account hours later, showing two more officers getting doused. One officer appears to be smiling in the beginning of the footage. The account asserts officers are too “petrified” by the water to take action against the civilians.
DISRESPECT: This is what #NYPD Officers are faced with today. Petrified to take action. #BlueLivesMatter @NYCMayor @BilldeBlasio @NYPDnews @NYPD73Pct pic.twitter.com/VRpVKBS5Jb
— NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) July 22, 2019
In addition to Monahan’s statement denouncing the “reprehensible” action toward the officers, the official also used his time at the One Police Plaza to announce the department would be pressing charges.
“Our detectives — and our detectives are the greatest in the world — are looking, and we will identify who was involved, and arrests will be made,” Chief Monahan said Tuesday, as quoted by the NY Post.
According to an NYPD release, those involved could face charges of obstructing governmental administration, criminal tampering, harassment and disorderly conduct.
On Twitter, Pence also communicated his and US President Donald Trump's opposition to the “disgraceful” conduct displayed in the videos and added fuel to “#StandWithNYPD.”
This conduct is disgraceful. President @realDonaldTrump and I will ALWAYS stand with the brave men & women of our law enforcement who serve on the thin blue line everyday. #StandWithNYPD https://t.co/VLIMnUGWDX
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) July 23, 2019
Many of those responding to @NYScanner’s tweets used the videos’ popularity to highlight what they believe to be silence and inaction when the roles are reversed.
Several in particular noted last week’s Department of Justice decision to not bring federal charges against Daniel Pantaleo, a still-active NYPD officer whose illegal chokehold is believed to have killed NYC civilian Eric Garner in 2014.
NYPD would probably have a more positive relationship with the citizenry if they didn't murder a man on the street for no reason and then do everything possible to successfully protect that officer from any meaningful repercussions
— generic white dude (@hismayoness) July 22, 2019
if you protect bad cops why trust any of them?
petrified of kids and water yet i keep hearing how brave they are
— Point Blake #HandsOffVenezuela (@pointblaek) July 22, 2019
Sad. Has anyone done a wellness check on those officers' wives?
— 𝕔𝕠𝕠𝕝🏴☠️𝕕𝕒𝕕 (@RoeVWadeBoggs) July 22, 2019
Overreaction much? Let me know when a cop dies by 16 shots from a super soaker.
— Anthony Clark for Congress (@anthonyvclark20) July 22, 2019
Say his name! #LaquanMcDonald pic.twitter.com/2SJp3GN51C
I'm just surprised the police didn't just on the spot execute the people spraying the water and just get off scot free by saying the thought the stream of water was a bullet from the matrix.
— The Equaliser (@socioEqualiser) July 22, 2019
I'm old enough to remember when the NYPD murdered a man for selling cigarettes.
— Gary on My Wayward Son (@AlexSupinski) July 22, 2019
