NEW YORK—Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and several top officials held a press conference Monday evening to comment on how the city police are dealing with the latest issues.
On Saturday, two policemen were assaulted during a protest against police brutality and terrorism awareness has been heightened after an Iranian-born gunman held people hostage in Australia.
Police said that protesters have been given opportunities to vent their frustrations about the decision not to indict white police officer Daniel Pantaleo for placing Eric Garner, who was black, in a chokehold in Staten Island that led to the latter’s death.
Turning violent against officers was going a step too far, said Bratton, who blamed a small group he called selfish for choosing to “make it all about them.”
“We do not take attacks on our police lightly,” said Bratton.
Six people—three male, three female—who police officers observed through reviewing an amateur YouTube video, are currently being sought for arrest. Many of them tried to prevent the two officers, Patrick Sullivan and Lieutenant Philip Chan, from arresting them. They punched and kicked Chan and Sullivan.
