Detectives revoke endorsement of Gonzalez
Union president cites vote on NYPD bills
In an unprecedented move, the Detectives Endowment Association (DEA), the union representing New York City’s police detectives, has suddenly revoked its endorsement of Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez in anger over her votes in favor of the controversial bills on Police Department oversight.
Michael Palladino, president of the 17,000 member union, said he and his members were shocked by Gonzalez’s vote to create an inspector general to monitor the New York Police Department and by her vote to make it easier for citizens to file lawsuits against the NYPD if they believe they have been racially profiled by cops. “We were shocked and disappointed by her vote in favor of both bills, but particularly the bias profiling bill, which we believe is bad for public safety and bad for the people we represent, who day after day, risk their lives to keep this city safe. This bill creates a presumption that the police are in the wrong,” Palladino told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on Monday.
“That’s why we took the unprecedented step of revoking our endorsement,” Palladino said.
Gonzalez (D-Sunset Park-Red Hook) is running for her third and final term in the council. The DEA had endorsed her earlier this year.