New York Police Department (NYPD) Chief Terence Monahan is demanding a public apology from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) for saying police “did not do their job” amid sometimes-violent protests over the death of George Floyd.
Monahan, the highest-ranking NYPD officer, told NBC News’s “Today” show that the governor’s office called him and Police Commissioner Dermot Shea to apologize and say that Cuomo “did not mean to put down the police officers.”
“You have to come out and see what these men and women are doing,” Monahan said. “Don’t ever call them ‘ineffective.’”
“I hope he would come out publicly and say it again today during his press conference,” he added.
Cuomo slammed New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) and the police department at his Tuesday press conference, saying they both “did not do their job” Monday night, calling it a “disgrace.”
The governor floated the idea of displacing de Blasio and bringing in the National Guard, adding that “I don’t think we’re at that point.”
“That would be such a chaotic situation in the midst of an already chaotic situation,” Cuomo said.
When asked Wednesday whether the National Guard should be brought into the city and whether de Blasio should be displaced, Monahan told the “Today” show, “Absolutely not.”
During his Wednesday briefing, Cuomo applauded the local and state police “who have done a great job” and said New York City “was much better” with peaceful protests on Tuesday night.
He also clarified his Tuesday remarks, saying “my issue was with the management and deployment, never about the police officers.”
The governor’s office released a statement obtained by NBC News Tuesday after the press conference saying, “The Governor has always said he has respect and confidence in the NYPD and he knows they can handle this situation because he has seen them do it in the past. It’s not the men and women of the NYPD — he questions the management and deployment” of the force.
De Blasio’s spokeswoman told The Hill on Tuesday that Cuomo’s remarks were “offensive to the men and women of the NYPD, who are out there every night trying to keep New Yorkers safe.”
“It would be nice if our officers knew they had the respect of their governor,” Freddi Goldstein said.
The mayor told 1010 WINS on Tuesday that the governor had “dishonored” the NYPD with his comments.
Cuomo and de Blasio issued an 11 p.m. curfew Monday but looting and violence continued Monday night, sparking the governor’s criticism. The mayor announced Tuesday the curfew would be moved up to 8 p.m. and would last the rest of the week until June 7.
Monahan told the “Today” show that the 8 p.m. curfew helped result in a more peaceful night of protests Tuesday.
The NYPD has fallen under scrutiny for some incidents that occurred while its officers respond to protests over Floyd’s death in Minneapolis.
One viral video showed two police cruisers lurching through a crowd of protesters. The mayor has also called for an investigation after another video showed an officer pushing a female demonstrator to the ground.
Updated 12:55 p.m.