Cop Suspended For Spraying Mace During Manhattan Protest: NYPD

NEW YORK, NY — An NYPD officer has been suspended without pay after macing a group of people during a protest in Manhattan, Commissioner Dermot Shea announced Monday.

The officer, whose name was not given despite promises from Shea of "greater transparency," discharged mace at a group of bystanders during an unspecified protest in Manhattan on June 1, according to the announcement. The NYPD did not answer a request for more details about the incident and the officer.

"[The Internal Affairs Bureau] conducted an investigation and this Probationary Police Officer has been suspended without pay," Shea said. "This case has been referred to the Department Advocate for disciplinary action."

The officer is the latest cop to be reprimanded for their behavior during ongoing police brutality protests spurred by the death of George Floyd.

So far, an officer who opened a car door on protesters in Brooklyn has also been referred to the Department Advocate and criminal charges were filed against an officer who threw a protester to the ground.

That officer, Long Island resident Vincent D'Andraia, was charged with third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief, second-degree harassment and third-degree menacing for pushing the protester outside the Barclays Center.

Shea said that Monday's announcement is likely not the last about police's behavior during the protests.

"There are other matters that we are actively investigating and we will continue to be transparent as the process continues," he said.

"Trust is critical to effective policing. Trust takes a long time to earn and it is very easy to lose. We will continue to work relentlessly to earn and keep that trust because without community partnership, we cannot effectively do our jobs."