Bratton: NYPD Detective Placed On Modified Duty After 'Unacceptable' Tirade At Uber Driver
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The NYPD detective caught on video berating an Uber driver has been placed on modified duty, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Wednesday.
CBS2 has confirmed the detective in the video is Patrick Cherry of the Joint Terrorism Task Force, CBS2's Sonia Rincon reported. He can be heard on video mocking the Uber driver's accent and berating him for three minutes.
As CBS2's Weijia Jiang reported, Bratton called the tirade "unacceptable" and "cringeworthy," adding that the officer is being transferred.
"In any encounter, discourtesy like and language like that is unacceptable," Bratton said. "Discourtesy like that is unacceptable."
Bratton said that the officer's behavior runs counter to the NYPD's ongoing retraining efforts.
"We are engaging in a major effort to provide additional training to our personnel on tactics in interaction with the public," Bratton said. "That officer's behavior violated every one of the tenets we are attempting to teach at the police academy in that three-day course that we are currently engaged in."
Sanjay Seth, a passenger in the Uber cab, recorded the traffic stop on the West Side Highway near 14th Street on Monday afternoon and posted it to YouTube.
The Uber driver allegedly honked at the unmarked black Subaru squad car -- which, according to Seth, did not signal as it was parking.
The Uber driver pulled up alongside Cherry's squad car and gestured that he should have used his blinker. An irate Cherry pulled him over.
Cherry was then seen giving the Uber driver a lengthy tongue-lashing.
"Stop it with your mouth. Stop it with your 'For what sir, for what sir?' Stop it with that bulls**t, and realize there are three vehicle traffic law violations that you committed, OK?" the detective says. "Do you understand me? I don't know what f***ing planet you think you're on right now."
Warning: Strong Language
In a statement to "CBS This Morning," the NYPD said the detective was on duty at the time of the incident.
The matter was referred to the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Seth testified before the CCRB Wednesday.
"Just gave testimony to CCRB. The investigation is in their hands," Seth wrote on Twitter. "Here's to a quick, fair, and thorough resolution to this incident."
Seth is heard in the video sympathizing with the driver.
"That's crazy. That's really inappropriate," he said.
Among the charges before the CCRB against Cherry are:
• Discourtesy, which includes cursing, yelling and inappropriate gestures and is a fairly common complaint. More than 1,800 such complaints were filed with the CCRB last year – a total of 37 complaints about police officers.
• Offensive language, such as racial and ethnic slurs. Those made up 9 percent of complaints last year.
"I have modified the officer, and that modification and transfer is taking effect immediately. I will extend an apology to the driver in that vehicle and the two passengers in the vehicle," Bratton said.
Mayor Bill de Blasio also said Tuesday there should be no tolerance for such behavior among police.
"There's just no place for any public servant to use discriminatory or negative language," the mayor said. "Again, I'm saying that not having seen the nuances, not having seen the exact language, but I'll state the obvious principle."
Cherry's behavior came as a surprise Wednesday to his neighbors in Suffolk County, who said he is nothing but courteous.
"Patrick's… when incidents are happening on the street -- car accidents or whatever -- and we're out there, and he's always out there," said neighbor Frank D'Andrea. "And he's always friendly; friendly to speak with."
"I hope everything works out and he'll learn from it," added Renee Stracuzza.
As CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported, Detectives' Endowment Association President Michael Palladino said Cherry's rant is a result of stress.
He said Cherry was on his way to visit a colleague in the hospital when the encounter happened.
"The past five days have been emotionally draining for the members of the JTTF (Joint Terrorism Task Force) dealing with their fellow detective's health," Palladino said in a statement. "Despite what some people think, cops have feelings, too."
The union said Cherry is a person of good character, who shouldn't be judged by one isolated incident, WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported.
According to Uber, the driver did not want to comment. But company spokesman Matt Wing issued a statement: "The behavior in the video is wrong and unacceptable and we appreciate the NYPD investigating the incident. We are in touch with our driver-partner who was subjected to this terrible experience and will continue to provide any support he needs."