[UPDATE: Commissioner Bratton has apologized and confiscated the officer's badge and gun.]
The NYPD officer caught on camera unleashing an irate rant against an Uber driver is a detective with the department's Joint Terrorism Task Force. Police sources have identified the angry cop in question as one Detective Patrick Cherry. The NYPD says the Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating the incident, during which Cherry pops off at the driver: "I don't know where you're coming from, where you think you're appropriate in doing that; that's not the way it works. How long have you been in this country? Do you understand me? I don't know what fucking planet think you're on right now."
"IAB will look at the circumstances and determine if a duty status change is required," one police source tells the Daily News. Of course Michael Palladino, president of the Detectives' Endowment Association, suggests Cherry's conduct can be excused by the fact that he had just been visiting a fellow detective who is hospitalized in critical condition following an elbow surgery.
"The past five days have been emotionally draining for the members of the JTTF dealing with their fellow detective's health," Palladino told the News. "Despite what some people think, cops have feelings, too."
Mayor de Blasio was asked about the video yesterday and told reporters, "There’s just no place for any public servant to use discriminatory or negative language. Again, I’m saying that not having seen the nuances, not having seen the exact language, but I’ll state the obvious principle." Pat Lynch isn't going to like that, no sir.
And Uber, which is no doubt loving not playing defense in the media for once, issued a statement saying, "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."
