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Port Authority Cop Probed For Applauding Violence Against Anti-Trump Protesters
By
Nathan Tempey
Published Feb 2, 2017
Modified Apr 2, 2018
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By
Nathan Tempey
Published Feb 2, 2017
Modified Apr 2, 2018
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Port Authority officials are looking into the online activity of an agency cop after a Facebook post of his surfaced in which he praised the punching of anti-Trump protesters during the inauguration in Washington, DC.
ProPublica reports that Brian Faustina, a 22-year veteran of the Port Authority Police Department, shared the video of an altercation between black bloc anarchists and a man who said he was trying to get to work on January 23rd. His caption, according to the site: "Grow up bitches and get a job."
In the video, the man who claims he has a job to get to tells the masked anarchists blocking his path, "You guys are crying bitches that you lost," then barges through the linked arms of the demonstrators. One of the smaller protesters seems to take a swing at the man after he breaks through, and he pops her in the face. Moments later, as one of her comrades yells about how the commuter "just hit a fuckin' woman," the man mashes his hand into the now-unmasked female protester's face a second time.
Police on the scene, who appear reluctant to get involved, seem to detain one of the black bloc members who may have scrapped with Bikers For Trump on the edge of the scrum. A confusing scene ensues where one of the anarchists demands the arrest of Commuter Guy while others chant, "This is what a police state looks like!"
A pro-Trump Facebook page called Deplorables Inc. posted the video with the description "Anti-Trump, domestic terrorists in DC meet a Trump supporter that likes to hit back," and Faustina reportedly shared it from there. When it was still visible, two retired PAPD officers reportedly chimed in, writing, "This needs to happen more often!" and "Thats what the all need [sic], a little ass kicking."
One of the retired officers, James Harley, told ProPublica that he sanctions the beating of protesters because police need to crack down more on violent demonstrators. He explained:
People shouldn’t be blocking the sidewalks and roadways so they can’t get to work or where they want to go. Protesting is fine, but when they cause violence, the police should be able to arrest them...President Trump, in his speeches, he speaks highly of the police. We haven’t had that in eight years.
In a statement on Whitehouse.gov, a newly acquired property of the Breitbart News network, Trump pledges to reduce crime in Chicago while upholding Second Amendment rights, and says, "Our job is not to make life more comfortable for the rioter, the looter, or the violent disrupter. Our job is to make life more comfortable for parents who want their kids to be able to walk the streets safely."
In March 2016, the New York Post reported that Faustina made $240,676 with overtime in 2015 on a base salary of $93,461, despite two open disciplinary cases dating back to 2010. The status of those infractions is unclear. Faustina's Facebook profile describes him as a member of the Special Operations Division and Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit.
NYPD officers are subject to a social media policy that forbids them from identifying themselves as cops, posting pictures in uniform or of crime scenes, or expressing views that would reflect poorly on the department. Pentangelo, the Port Authority spokesman, declined to provide the agency's social media policy, suggesting that I file a public records request to obtain it.
Faustina did not immediately return a voicemail left at a number listed for him in Bergen County.
Tagged
anarchists
black bloc
donald trump
inauguration
papd
police misconduct
police social media
port authority
protest
violence
Nathan Tempey
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