There’s a cringe-worthy video making the rounds of an undercover NYPD officer verbally assaulting an UberX driver in New York City (this video contains strong language, so is not suitable for work). The video was taken and uploaded by the passenger — here’s the description:
Police abuse of Uber driver in New York City. In an unmarked car, the policeman was allegedly attempting to park without using his blinker at a green light. (His reverse lights weren’t on. Likely double parked without hazards on.) The Uber driver pulled around and gestured that he should use his blinker, casually and non-offensively, and kept driving us. The policeman aggressively pulls up behind us and this is what happens.
(This occurred just before 2pm on the West side of Manhattan, in police precinct 6, on March 30th, 2015. The officer did not identify himself, but he had a New York license plate: GSS 8891)
This is so beyond sickening that I just can’t…
Uber has issued the following statement regarding the incident:
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.
(Tip of the hat to View from the Wing)
You obviously have never been pulled over by a Vancouver Police officer. They make that guy look like Pope Francis.
This is rich...lol...
In a statement, Michael Palladino, president of the Detectives' Endowment Association, called the officer "a person of good character and an excellent detective" who "should not be judged by one isolated incident."
The cop was demoted.
http://www.theverge.com/2015/4/2/8329871/nypd-detective-uber-rant-caught-on-video?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews
@db - "Again when a US cops pulls me over for speeding and puts handcuff on me and has his hand on his gun when approaching it is a terrifying experience"
It's probably more terrifying for the cop, since traffic stops are statistically the most dangerous part of a cop's job (at least in the US).
"I have never been arrested and am a decent guy"
How is the cop supposed to know this? For...
@db - "Again when a US cops pulls me over for speeding and puts handcuff on me and has his hand on his gun when approaching it is a terrifying experience"
It's probably more terrifying for the cop, since traffic stops are statistically the most dangerous part of a cop's job (at least in the US).
"I have never been arrested and am a decent guy"
How is the cop supposed to know this? For all he knows, maybe you ARE a decent guy. For all he knows, maybe you have a gun and are on the run for murder, or some other violent crime.
"in a decent car."
How is the car you're driving relevant? Plenty of people who own nice cars commit crimes.
I did not mean to offend anyone and surely I am thankful to be living in the US. My comment was just to point out that in a lot of places the police is not as strict. I was simply pointing out that strong enforcement can be good and bad and we can all think of examples of both.
Again when a US cops pulls me over for speeding and puts handcuff on me...
I did not mean to offend anyone and surely I am thankful to be living in the US. My comment was just to point out that in a lot of places the police is not as strict. I was simply pointing out that strong enforcement can be good and bad and we can all think of examples of both.
Again when a US cops pulls me over for speeding and puts handcuff on me and has his hand on his gun when approaching it is a terrifying experience-I have never been arrested and am a decent guy in a decent car. But OTOH when you are the victim (the example of pissing on a tree) it can be a good thing to have enforcement, where in Europe no cops are around to help.
To conclude this was by no mean an anti US post, I lived in both and can appreciate the benefit of both systems. The US is a police state with very strict rules and enforcement vs say the latin way, and it took me years living in the US to understand what "freedom" was in the US. When I first moved I felt the opposite of freedom, but then realized that one's freedom end's where another begins and therefore the US interpretation of that is strong regs and enforcement. That is it.
PS: as for Russia, yes Africa etc can be used as well not at all what I meant, it is pretty clear-Developped / western Europe...
@nick you misunderstood me.
Nick says:
@db – Hardly. You don’t know what you are talking about and probably just want to spread propeganda, or your own personal beliefs. I’ve been to Europe and I’ve been to U.S.A. Try going to Russia sometime. Over there, if a cop “pulls you over” you don’t get a ticket – YOU PAY THE COP THEN AND THERE. There is no day in court. There is no guideline for what you must...
Nick says:
@db – Hardly. You don’t know what you are talking about and probably just want to spread propeganda, or your own personal beliefs. I’ve been to Europe and I’ve been to U.S.A. Try going to Russia sometime. Over there, if a cop “pulls you over” you don’t get a ticket – YOU PAY THE COP THEN AND THERE. There is no day in court. There is no guideline for what you must pay. He will make it up as he sees fit. So don’t be damning the way things get done here in the good old U.S.A. If you prefer Europe, please move there. It’s much better here, trust me.
----
Hah.
Although I'm quite sure you're trolling (considering most readers of this blog have undoubtedly been to Europe and know better), but I'll bite.
I've lived in Europe. For about a decade. It's no surprise you used Russia as your "example", as that former communist autocracy is the only country worse than the USA with regards to police abuse. Bribes may be the name of the game in Russia or backwoods Central America, but in most of Europe you'll get arrested for that as well.
But then, most police in Europe aren't psychopaths...
Is this what you call "Losing It" ?
Jim Nazium says:
Those of you that are bashing ALL police should NEVER call for assistance (but I am sure you have), karma KARMA !
#notallpolice , right?
How about the people we PAY to SERVE and PROTECT do their jobs?
Seems like he is a NYPD cop after all.
http://photographyisnotacrime.com/2015/03/nypd-says-road-rage-cop-who-yelled-at-uber-driver-not-their-cop/
a big LOL at "db"'s comments. Hopefully you live in Europe and stay there so you can piss in public and everything else you're allowed to do there.
cee... no words for you except you're more pathetic than the cop.. by a factor of about 1000.
I've said it before & I'll say it again: you cannot verbally assault someone.
You can have a verbal altercation, but you cannot have a verbal assault.
Thank you for posting Lucky. Keep it positive folks.
@db - Hardly. You don't know what you are talking about and probably just want to spread propeganda, or your own personal beliefs. I've been to Europe and I've been to U.S.A. Try going to Russia sometime. Over there, if a cop "pulls you over" you don't get a ticket - YOU PAY THE COP THEN AND THERE. There is no day in court. There is no guideline for what you must pay. He will...
@db - Hardly. You don't know what you are talking about and probably just want to spread propeganda, or your own personal beliefs. I've been to Europe and I've been to U.S.A. Try going to Russia sometime. Over there, if a cop "pulls you over" you don't get a ticket - YOU PAY THE COP THEN AND THERE. There is no day in court. There is no guideline for what you must pay. He will make it up as he sees fit. So don't be damning the way things get done here in the good old U.S.A. If you prefer Europe, please move there. It's much better here, trust me.
There may be one rotton apple on the tree here, if he even is a cop. I'd be interested to know if he is a fed or a city cop. All this speculation and nobody knows for sure what the *$(%LL is really going on.
Stay tuned. Same bat time...same bat channel.
Benny,
Please remove the comment by "Cee" above. That is just sick to wish harm on anyone. Especially to our public servants in uniform who protect us.
There are good and bad people in every organization (including airlines). Let NYPD Internal Affairs investigate the matter. This is Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and he will surely be disciplined. The best discipline he will receive is the public humiliation as a result of this video. In...
Benny,
Please remove the comment by "Cee" above. That is just sick to wish harm on anyone. Especially to our public servants in uniform who protect us.
There are good and bad people in every organization (including airlines). Let NYPD Internal Affairs investigate the matter. This is Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer and he will surely be disciplined. The best discipline he will receive is the public humiliation as a result of this video. In fact it is an embarrassment to NYPD police officers. Many of whom are kind and helpful during the course of their duties.
What if a Nurse/Dr abuses the patients? Would you defend that Dr/nurse? If police can't act according to the profession bec of "how hard the job is", then get out of the profession (can't take the heat -> get out of the kitchen). Period.
Too many times, society's rejects go in to these professions (incl. armed services) and then they take out their life's frustrations on innocent/victims rather than serve & protect. They should...
What if a Nurse/Dr abuses the patients? Would you defend that Dr/nurse? If police can't act according to the profession bec of "how hard the job is", then get out of the profession (can't take the heat -> get out of the kitchen). Period.
Too many times, society's rejects go in to these professions (incl. armed services) and then they take out their life's frustrations on innocent/victims rather than serve & protect. They should remember their livelihood. is paid from everyday hard working people's "hard-earned" tax $$. It is hard enough for normal Citizens to go through everyday life w/o getting abused by police.
Too many times, we have seen police heavy-handed approach with impunity. Nowhere else in the world, except in some junta/pariah states, police behave like lot of cops in USA.
NYC has many law,enforcement agents / Agencies incl NYPD, Postal Inspectors, Bridge and Tunnel, Port Authority, Sanitation, Court Officers, Fire Marshalls, etc. NYPD are paid not very well for the risks they take for us.
Maybe you anti-police ranters should give that job a go? You would NOT have the ball$ !
The a$$ that preferred anarchy, walk outside your cave and smell the fresh air
@Endre I believe that if the officer were federal his car would have federal plates, not NY plates. He is some type of NY law enforcement with an extremely bad attitude.
@Tim - honestly, what an ignorant comment from a Kiwi generalizing about American police all being like this appalling guy! I'm Canadian, so I don't have a horse in this race. But I've visited the U.S. dozens of times and New Zealand four times, and in my limited encounters with cops in both countries, they have always been polite and professional. However there are exceptions everywhere and to assume that there are no bad cops...
@Tim - honestly, what an ignorant comment from a Kiwi generalizing about American police all being like this appalling guy! I'm Canadian, so I don't have a horse in this race. But I've visited the U.S. dozens of times and New Zealand four times, and in my limited encounters with cops in both countries, they have always been polite and professional. However there are exceptions everywhere and to assume that there are no bad cops in your country and that all American cops are like this jerk is the height of small country arrogance.
@Tara
You are 100 percent on point.
Those of you that are bashing ALL police should NEVER call for assistance (but I am sure you have), karma KARMA !
Go protest that the BIG BANKERS and,POLITICIANS are destroying our country ! Stealing from us all.
PS This "cop" is acting like a fool, that I,agree.
Too much hatred of police these days. I think the vast majority of people who are complaining wouldn't last in their job for a single day. Most of us who live in peaceful low-crime areas don't witness police doing difficult things. But listen to a police scanner, you'll hear all sorts of things that will make your jaw drop, especially if you are listening in on a high crime area. Chicago west side or south...
Too much hatred of police these days. I think the vast majority of people who are complaining wouldn't last in their job for a single day. Most of us who live in peaceful low-crime areas don't witness police doing difficult things. But listen to a police scanner, you'll hear all sorts of things that will make your jaw drop, especially if you are listening in on a high crime area. Chicago west side or south side are good examples. Is it really too difficult to just show police respect? That's what I do, I don't tell them what to do, and if they tell me what to do I just do it. No problem
Thanks for posting the video as a warning of just what a traveler might have to contend with, especially in NYC. Certainly beyond words. Disappointed, however, in self righteous people who apparently view this as their public forum for attacking people and spouting religion, fetuses, satan and mocking free speech, like that's better.
Anyone who lived outside of the US (most places) and in the US knows that the US is a police state and it can be very scary.
When I first moved from Europe 10 years ago I was simply shocked by how much police and how much power they have. An officer puller a gun on me because I did not want to sit on the floor (mud), I could not believe it (I...
Anyone who lived outside of the US (most places) and in the US knows that the US is a police state and it can be very scary.
When I first moved from Europe 10 years ago I was simply shocked by how much police and how much power they have. An officer puller a gun on me because I did not want to sit on the floor (mud), I could not believe it (I was in college and the driver of the car had an updated parking ticket).
OTOH, an edit took me a while to understand, this might be the cost of freedom, or at least what the US culture defines as the cost of freedom.
A good example is in Europe you take a piss against a tree nothing will ever happen to you maybe a cop will tell you to move on. In the US you can and probably will get arrested, have a gun pulled on you, and this can change someone's life...99% of the time better to be in Europe but now what if it was your tree? This is where freedom as its cost.
In any other profession he will be fired the next day. But not in NYC Police dept (most corrupt)!
With all the looting in Ferguston many a tennis shoes were looted, but all work boots remained on the shelfs..
The guy may not have been a cop, he did not show a badge..
@cee Do you have s**t for brains? Get a grip please and stop being an idiot.
i live in new zealand. Any cop recorded like this would be fired instantly, it would be on tv even.However, i think that he is typical of US police in every way.
@Tim,
not typical. Unfortunately there are plenty of this kind, but not typical. I've been pulled over countless times and usually they are polite and just doing their job, they want to go home in one piece from work just like you and I do.. - New Zealand population is 4 million while the US is 322 million. New York City alone 8.5 is million. I'm sure I can find proportional number of ahole police-people...
@Tim,
not typical. Unfortunately there are plenty of this kind, but not typical. I've been pulled over countless times and usually they are polite and just doing their job, they want to go home in one piece from work just like you and I do.. - New Zealand population is 4 million while the US is 322 million. New York City alone 8.5 is million. I'm sure I can find proportional number of ahole police-people in every society. (well, to correct myself, in communist countries and in Russia it would be quite a bit more)
Pigs. I'd prefer complete anarchy to this.
Probably an Internal Affairs volunteer RAT in that video! ! They are cowards too
Man!!!!!!!!!!!! My heart was just racing watching that......Im shaking just typing this. What a first class *************************** !!! NYPD...are you reading this??? DO NOT LET THIS A************E OFF... You guys handled that really well!!! Please keep us posted!
The ugly face of a xenophobic racist - how sad to think that its immigrants that have made NY such an amazing place and then there are aholes like this in their police force!
@Viewfromthewing
Who moderates the responses on this blog? Satan? How does that turf response about Police (death) qualify? I guess freedom of speech ? Joke,
didnt the guy give the driver a ticket? Wouldn't that have a name and/badge number on it? That certainly would identify this guy unless he had a fake ticket book, right?
@CEE John 3:16 karma karma, and,more,karma
Most Americans don't realise they live in a police state, where cops abuse people daily in a variety of ways. When cops are not taken to task for shooting people willy nilly, when someone has power over you and can beat you or kill you, make up a story and get away with it, you have a country is chaos,
@CEE
Were you hiding in the trunk of the UBER car, in the fetus position?
This guy can't control his emotions driving in NYC traffic, yet he's presumably issued a firearm?
What an astounding lack of judgement. There is absolutely no excuse for this sort of behaviour; he should be fired.
Taxi cab diaries? Try to drive in NYC in the proximity of any taxi or car service. Very unpredictable drivers (no signalling, no etiquette) !
That is called verbal judo ! Hayyy Yahhh :)
@Tocqueville,
Do they do any of that now?
@Santastico
They still give you crap before exiting when they collect the customs forms. So Global Entry doesn't totally get you out of the woods.
@Mike O.: You are correct. I took care of that by getting Global Entry. :)
@cee
If you actually believe that you are a terrible person. If you don't, you are still a bad person for joking about it.
@Santastico
Don't forget the CBP upon arrival! I recall them giving someone so much crap once.
NYPD says they don't know who he is... I think it would take .. hmm lets say 5 seconds to run the plate and voala... you know who he is...
@Cee - Seriously?!?! You are a horrible, horrible person if you really think that.
A lot of sociopaths hide behind a badge.
Problem with many people today is their attitude and sense of entitlement when they are given some power over other people. I am not here to judge the police but closer to us (travel) I see terrible attitudes from TSA agents and airline workers (from gate agents to crew members) that think that just because they are the "authority" they can treat people the way they want. Problem is that if you argue with a...
Problem with many people today is their attitude and sense of entitlement when they are given some power over other people. I am not here to judge the police but closer to us (travel) I see terrible attitudes from TSA agents and airline workers (from gate agents to crew members) that think that just because they are the "authority" they can treat people the way they want. Problem is that if you argue with a TSA agent or even with a flight attendant they can make your life miserable just because they can.
And great composure by the passengers! They seem really nice! :D
Ben - without the police and the government who would protect our rights? Who would keep us safe? Who would protect us from dangers?
A viral video showing a man claiming to be a cop ranting at an Uber driver for having the gall to tell him to use turn signals while parking is not an NYPD officer, according to an internal affairs detective.
Detective Vantil of the New York City Police Internal Affairs Bureau told PINAC’s Felipe Hemming that the Hyundai the man was driving was not registered to the NYPD, even though it had built-in red...
A viral video showing a man claiming to be a cop ranting at an Uber driver for having the gall to tell him to use turn signals while parking is not an NYPD officer, according to an internal affairs detective.
Detective Vantil of the New York City Police Internal Affairs Bureau told PINAC’s Felipe Hemming that the Hyundai the man was driving was not registered to the NYPD, even though it had built-in red and blue emergency lights.
Vantil said he is still trying to determine the identity of the driver and the agency he works for, but it’s possible he could be an Amtrak cop, a Federal Reserve cop or even a federal agent.
The video was recorded by a backseat passenger in the car, who uploaded it to Youtube where it now has more than 65,000 views. Although the passenger did not refer to him as an NYPD cop in the description, posted below, many news sites assumed he was a New York City cop and described him as such.
Being born and raised in NY, sad to say I hate it because of attitudes like that. I ain't raising my future kids in NY that's for sure. I'm moving to LA!
This is the only time I wished someone shot and killed an officer
He should have just written him and refrained from the cursing and other verbal no-no's.
Not surprised by this. Being raised in NYC, I always found the NYPD to be a bunch of arrogant pricks. I remember when I locked myself out of my car and I police car passed by, I asked if there was any possibility they can assist me. The response was go get a brick and break your window.
Union will defend him till he retires with flying colors
Wow! A lot of people these days just think they're the sh*t