NYPD White Shirt Under Investigation For Punching Protester

An image of Deputy Inspector Johnny Cardona reaching over a police barricade to grab a protester last month, shortly before Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna discharges pepper spray, via Daily Kos

The actions of the NYPD officer seen punching protester Felix Rivera-Pitre in the face during last Friday's Occupy Wall Street protests are officially under investigation. According to the Guardian, the New York Civilian Complaint Review Board is looking into Deputy Inspector Johnny Cardona's use of force. "We have several ongoing investigations involving police interactions with protesters, said the CCRB's spokeswoman, Linda Sachs. Presumably included are the actions of Deputy Inspector Tony Bologna, who pepper-sprayed seemingly innocent women during protests on September 24.

However, unlike Bologna's pepper-spraying, Cardona's punch is not currently being investigated by the NYPD's own Internal Affairs Bureau. Department spokesman Paul Browne, without specifically naming Cardona, claims that Rivera-Pitre attempted to elbow the officer. The police are seeking his arrest for attempted assault on a police officer, obstructing governmental justice, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Rivera-Pitre has retained famed civil rights attorney Ron Kuby, who has advised the NYPD not to charge his client with any crime.

Cardona is also implicated in an incident shortly before Bologna's pepper-spraying, as video shows him lunging over orange netting acting as a NYPD barricade to grab a female protester by the throat, seemingly unprovoked.

Gene O'Donnell, a CUNY law professor and former NYPD officer, tells the paper that white-shirted supervisors like Cardona are in the "hottest seat" during large demonstrations. "There's friction between cops and their leaderships that gets exposed," he says. "That's when you have the potential for over-reaction from people with white shirts. It's a very difficult place for a middle manager to be."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Christopher Robbins in News on October 18, 2011 5:03 PM

Comments [rss]

Kimberley Truelove

Is this the guy that splashed his urine on the officer? I'd beat his ass too.

splicernyc

These Whiteshirts are at the forefront of the violence against protesters precisely because the blue uniformed cops are more likely to be in support. The shock troops of the NYPD sent in to stir up trouble.

Br00klynian

That officer did this world a huge justice by punching a few lice and bed bugs out of that losers head...GOOD JOB Officer!

ixvnyc

He is a scumbag and so are you.

edgie168

diaf

scrivenerNP

And now, the sustained
climax of what appears to be a contrived psyop, fronted by agit-prop
rent-a-protester agent provocateur phonies, a honeypot to ferret out alleged
"dissidents" so they can be roughed up and thrown into the Security
State's extrajudicial persecution matrix, thus bolstering the bottom line of
the defense contractors who profit from the war on (genuine, not
"controlled opposition") dissent. That’s not to say most of the
protesters aren’t for real – they are.
But they are targets of some very devious psyop agents and they are
being duped and endangered.

http://nowpublic.com/world/thu...
If link sabotaged, see links above bio at http://NowPublic.com/scrivener

Georgina Lunski

THAT fat fuck.

Peanut_Butter

Where can I find him? I'd like to shake his hand.

ktinnyc

"Where can I find him? I'd like to ~~shake his hand~~ give him a hand job with my mouth."

ixvnyc

If you like people who attack women for no reason, you can go to Rikers and shake hands with rapists to your heart's delight. That's where this scumbag belongs, and that's where he will end up if there is justice.

Peanut_Butter

I didn't see anything, did you?

Barbara Starkweather

Protester allegedly assaulted an NYPD officer four days ago and they're lackadaisically "looking to arrest him"? Please. That just isn't their MO when an officer is assaulted.

More likely they're afraid that if they arrest Mr Rivera-Pitre, somebody in the crowd with a camera will go public with evidence that they're lying. Like they did with Pogan, and like they did with cops who made false arrests at the 2004 RNC.

Smart for Mr Rivera-Pitre to retain Ron Kuby.

theevilerone

If the NYPD was willing to go public, they have this guy.

Ian MacAllen

They aren't in the "hot seat." Attacking unarmed civilians peaceably marching puts no one in the hot seat except for steroid guzzling maniacs with the of a badge, uniform, nightstick and gun.