NYPD lieutenant who kneeled with protesters says he’s ‘ashamed’ by his actions
A New York Police Department lieutenant has apologized to his fellow officers for kneeling at a George Floyd protest last week in Manhattan.
In an email obtained by the New York Post, Lieutenant Robert Cattani from the Midtown South Precinct wrote on June 3 that it was a “horrible decision” to kneel with protesters at Foley Square in Manhattan.
A copy of the email was also posted on Twitter.
“I made a horrible decision to give into a crowd of protesters demands and kneeled alongside several other officers,” Cattani wrote. “The conditions prior to the decision to take a knee were very difficult as we were put center stage with the entire crowd chanting. I know I made the wrong decision. We didn’t know how the protesters would have reacted if we didn’t and were attempting to reduce any extra violence.”
“I thought maybe that one protester/rioters who saw it would later think twice about fighting or hurting a cop,” Cattani continued. “I was wrong. At least that [sic] what I told myself when we made that bad decision. I know that it was wrong and something I will be shamed and humiliated about for the rest of my life.”
“We all know that the a------ in Minneapolis was wrong, yet we don’t concede for other officers’ mistakes... I do not place blame on anyone other than myself for not standing my ground,” Cattani added, referring to now-fired Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was captured on video pressing his knee into Floyd’s neck.
Videos of the demonstration in Foley Square show protesters chanting “NYPD take a knee!” before several officers kneeled.
The death of Floyd, 46, has sparked protests across the nation. He died after Chauvin kneeled onto his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, as three other officers didn’t intervene. Floyd was arrested after being accused by a store employee of using a counterfeit $20 bill to buy a pack of cigarettes at a Minneapolis grocery store.
A 17-year-old bystander took video of the incident, in which Floyd can be heard saying, “Please, please, please, I can’t breathe.”
Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He remains jailed with bail set at $1.25 million.
Officers J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas Lane and Tou Thao were also fired and arrested, charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter. Lane was released on Wednesday on bond, according to CNN.
This story was originally published June 11, 2020 at 2:51 PM with the headline "NYPD lieutenant who kneeled with protesters says he’s ‘ashamed’ by his actions."