Federation Of Taxi Drivers Calls For Firing Of Detective In Confrontation With Uber Driver
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers is now calling on the NYPD to fire a detective who was caught on video berating an Uber driver.
A passenger in the Uber cab recorded the traffic stop on the West Side Highway near 14th Street Monday afternoon and posted it to YouTube.
"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."
Federation Of Taxi Drivers Calls For Firing Of Detective In Confrontation With Uber Driver
As WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported, at first Fernando Mateo, head of the taxi drivers federation, was willing to cut Det. Patrick Cherry some slack.
"You don't end someone's career if he's been exemplary in his behavior," Mateo had said after the video initially went viral last week.
But now, after confirming Cherry has been accused in over a dozen similar complaints of disrespect and abuse since 2001, Mateo said he is changing his position.
Mateo said the incident wasn't simply just a bad single day, Smith reported.
"He doesn't deserve to be a cop. He deserves to be fired," he said.
Mateo told 1010 WINS Cherry's track record for such incidents is "unacceptable" and also urged the Detectives Endowment Association not to support Cherry.
"I think that this man has gone overboard. He is a discredit to the agency, a discredit to the police department," he said.
In response to Mateo's comments, President Detectives Endowment Association Michael Palladino said "Mr. Mateo is trying to keep an old story fresh. I wouldn't dignify his comments with a response."
Calls for comment on Mateo's statements have not yet been returned by the NYPD.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board is investigating the incident. Cherry has since made a public apology.
