NYPD Chief Joseph Esposito intervenes between thug cops & OWS protesters at Times Square

Somebody please send this guy a box of Havana cigars, he's one of New York's finest. Chief of the Department Joseph Esposito, the highest ranking uniformed member of the NYPD, pulled his officers back with one hand and pushed protesters away with the other. He signaled to the protesters for calm, then patted his cops on the chests and shoulders. It wasn't the first time. Two weeks ago during the large march on the Brooklyn Bridge, when a policeman tried to yank a mask from a protester's face, Esposito grabbed the cop by the back of the belt and pulled him back from the police skirmish line. He visibly scolded the policeman, and when a scuffle broke out, Esposito was in the center to end the tension. More than 700 marchers were arrested that day, but overall there was little violence. Perhaps the protesters in Times Square remembered this. They started screaming, "Esposito! Esposito!" The chief gave an acknowledging smile and a little wave. Then a chant of, "Overworked and underpaid! We do this for you." After another 20 minutes, Esposito returned to the barricade, where protesters yelled that their only demand was to cross the intersection. Esposito yelled "Mike check"—the signal the protesters shout when they want to speak— and smiled as the crowd erupted. When the cheering subsided, Esposito asked if they would cross the street peacefully should the barricades be opened. After receiving an affirmative cheer, the chief nodded at one of his captains.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• OWS
• Occupy
• Wall
• Street
• NYPD
• Times
• Square
• Joseph
• Esposito

[thestrugglevideo]

I couldn't have said it better.

[iamaronpaulblican]

NOW THAT IS A REAL PEACE OFFICER!!!!!!!!!

[djuss240]

Respect is earned, not given. Way to set a sterling example Esposito! Fact is, we need the police. The other fact is we allow the police their powers. With out our consent to be goverend, they are nothing more than a hoplessy out numbered gang.

[PhillyCopsAreCorrupt]

Pigs are arrogant thugs. Esposito is still a thug even though he pretended not be when the cameras were rolling.

[sc666666]

teetering towers of steam... o my!!

[THEEND123321]

what a joke these punks are and this show TOO!

[ChicagoCop1]

I have a funny feeling this kid was trying to blow the horses.....LISTEN TO THE POLICE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING YOU ASSHOLE!

[Purplecatsoup30]

@linda7429 How could a crowd of thousands possibly "back up?" This is what dozens of people have been posting on YT. The police are just lucky that Esposito was there to diffuse the situation - if there had been even a few deaths, it's impossible to say what would happen, but in other countries that is the flash point for revolution!

[linda7429]

Maybe if those being told to back up actually did, they wouldn't have been in harms way. 

[twotrickponies]

he person being interviewed did NOT understand WHY the officer was pushing his horse forward... the horse was trying to BACK away - and when a horse is backing in that fashion, the NEXT step for the horse is to turn and bolt!

learn about horses before making asinine statements! the LAST thing you want is have a horse backing uncontrolled in that situation. idiots were hitting the horses, flapping signs at the horse that shied and slipped! this crowd acted stupidly.