The NYPD cop seen on a now viral video abusing an Uber driver has been placed on modified duty and transferred.
The officer, identified as detective Patrick Cherry, will be barred from any enforcement duties and moved out of his job with the elite Joint Terrorism Task Force.
"That officer's behavior reflected poorly on everyone who wears our uniform," said New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton. "In that kind of encounter, anger like that is unacceptable. In any kind of encounter, discourtesy like that and language like that is unacceptable," Bratton said.
Bratton also said, "I want to extend an apology to the driver of that vehicle and the two passengers in that vehicle for the behavior of that officer."
The Civilian Complaint Review Board has taken over the investigation into the video, which was captured and posted on YouTube by Sanjay Seth, one of the passengers in the Uber car. Seth has already been interviewed by the agency.
"At CCRB, I spoke with an Investigator, the Chief Prosecutor, and the Executive Director. They are taking this complaint seriously," Seth tweeted.
Meanwhile, ride sharing service Uber called the behavior in the video "wrong and "unacceptable", and said it appreciated the NYPD investigating the incident.
The three-minute video had captured the roadside altercation between detective Cherry and Uber driver Humayun Chaudhry at the West Village Monday.
The video begins as detective Cherry approaches the Uber cab and starts yelling at Humayun. "Stop it with your mouth, stop it with your, 'For what, sir,'" the officer is heard saying in the video as he curses. "Stop it with that ... and realize the three vehicle and traffic law violations you committed."
"You understand me? I don't know what [expletive] planet you think you're on right now," the irate officer yells, making fun of the Uber driver's English accent.
The driver can be heard trying to calm the officer and apologize.
The officer also questioned the driver about how long he had been in the country. He also threatens the driver with arrest.
"I got news for you and use this lesson: don't ever do that again. The only reason you're not in handcuffs going to jail and getting summonses in the precinct is because I have things to do," detective Cherry is heard saying in the video.
Detective Cherry reportedly has had 12 previous complaints made against him over his 15-year career, some involving verbally abusing citizens.
by RTT Staff Writer
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