#NYPD cop suspended for macing people during Manhattan protest

A police officer was suspended without pay for macing a group of people in Manhattan earlier this month, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said in a statement Monday.

“Today I have an update on a troubling incident involving a member of the department that occurred during recent demonstration activity,” Shea said, adding he was sharing the information in the interest of “greater transparency.”

The probationary officer “discharged mace at a group of bystanders” during protests on June 1, Shea said. No further information about the incident was provided.

IAB investigated and the cop was suspended without pay. The NYPD Advocate will determine if further disciplinary action is necessary, the statement said.

The macing happened as protests over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis took place throughout the city and country. It was one of dozens of incidents the NYPD was investigating its own officers over, police sources have said.

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

“Trust is critical to effective policing,” the statement reads. “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.”

Another NYPD officer, Vincent D’Andraia, was caught on video shoving a female protester to the ground May 29 during protests near the Barclays Center. He was charged with third-degree assault on June 9 and was freed without bail.

In the now-viral video, the 28-year-old cop can be heard calling Dounya Zayer a “stupid b—h” before shoving her with his hands, sending her flying several feet and onto the pavement.