NYPD Chief Blasts Cabán: 'Her Words are Garbage That Hurt NYC'
NYPD Chief Slams NYC Council's Anarchist Sympathizers
By Frankie Pressman and M. Thomas Nast
A heated Twitter clash between NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell and NYC Council Member Tiffany Cabán is stirring significant controversy. The exchange reveals a deep-seated ideological divide that transcends mere social media disputes.
https://twitter.com/NYPDChiefPatrol/status/1786221223027839180
Chief Chell countered Council Member Tiffany Cabán’s earlier social media post, calling it “garbage…from a person who hates our city and certainly does not represent the great people of NYC.”
Ms. Cabán called the conduct of the Columbia University Administrators and the NYPD in removing pro-Palestinian protesters “authoritarian…a colossal disgrace, a horrifying affront to democracy and free speech, and an abject failure of public safety.”
Chief Chell went on to play the “word replacement game.” It went like this:
Last night's criminal conduct by entitled non accountable students and the support they receive from Councilmember Tiffany Cabán is a colossal disgrace. A horrifying affront to democracy and proper behavior from people who are not accountable for their behavior. This was an abject failure of how civilized people are expected to behave in society while continually acting like a perpetual victim. Remember everyone, if you want change, seek the change you want by getting involved. Then you know what to do...
While seemingly centered on the appropriateness of Chief Chell's Twitter conduct, the allegations tap into broader concerns about the alignment of certain NYC Elected Officials with groups supportive of Palestinian causes.
Many are concerned for good reason: The NYPD views some of these groups as potential security threats.
https://twitter.com/NYPDChiefPatrol/status/1786938774544400506
Famed Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz recently asked the salient question: How Many Campus Protesters Will Turn Terrorist Themselves?
“[W]e must be prepared for actual violence from those who currently advocate violence. …Certainly, our law enforcement and intelligence agencies must remain on alert, monitoring social media channels and, perhaps, looking for links between, say, protesters who commit crimes and known terror groups and individuals. …Track funding sources, too. The lights are flashing; connect the dots,” Professor Dershowitz said.
Chief Chell has been an outspoken advocate for maintaining order during demonstrations, which has put him at odds with progressive elements, including Ms. Cabán. The tweet, however, was just the spark in a powder keg of accumulated tensions. Behind the social media facade lies a deeper narrative of conflicting views on law enforcement and national security.
Ms. Cabán, known for her progressive stance and criticism of the NYPD’s tactics, represents a leftist faction within the NYC Council that has expressed solidarity with Palestinian activists, some of whom were in demonstrations that the police describe as veering into anarchism.
This isn’t the first time Chief Chell’s digital interactions have drawn Ms. Cabán’s ire. In March, he faced questions about a post criticizing Caban's public safety policies, which he claimed hurt "everyday NYers."
Today, progressives argue that Chief Chell’s comments breached the NYC Charter’s rules against using government resources for “political messaging.” Yet, despite these complaints, NYC Mayor Eric Adams has consistently defended the NYPD brass, underscoring the Chief's right to address citywide concerns about safety and the conduct of public demonstrations.
“If a columnist has a right to an opinion, a police officer shouldn’t have a right to his opinion?” Mayor Adams said last month. Asked why he hasn’t publicly criticized police officials, the mayor responded: “You don’t chastise your people in public. You praise them in public and chastise them in private.”
Supporters of Chell argue that his remarks are a necessary counter to the narrative pushed by progressives like Caban and national figures such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who often utilize social media to amplify their political agendas.
The controversy extends beyond tweets to the physical actions of NYPD officials. Notably, Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry and top NYPD spokesman Tarik Sheppard raised an American flag after removing a Palestinian flag following protests on the City College campus. This act, celebrated by most as restoring order, was perceived by others as a provocative display.
Mayor Eric Adams cheered the flag-raising as a patriotic symbol that New Yorkers “are not surrendering” their way of life.
“That’s our flag, folks. Who would take over our buildings and put another flag up? It may be fine to other people but not me,” Adams said at a Wednesday press conference.
“My uncle died defending this country. These men and women put their lives on the line. It’s despicable that schools will allow another country’s flag to fly in our country,” he added.
“So blame me for being proud to be an American. And I thank Commissioner Daughtry for putting our flag back up. We are not surrendering our way of life to anyone.”
Many NYPD officers, military veterans, responders, and others who have served feel the same way as Mayor Adams.
“I don’t know what kind of a world we live in where raising the American flag becomes controversial. It’s a slap in the face to the Marines at Iwo Jima, the Responders on 9-11, and everyone else who has ever served,” said an NYPD-connected source who wished to remain unnamed.
Ms. Cabán cited Chief Chell’s Twitter statements on Friday in a letter to Mayor Adams, which was joined by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Brad Lander, the NYC Comptroller (an expected 2025 NYC Mayoral contender), and more than 35 additional elected officials. The letter characterized Chief Chell’s remarks about Ms. Cabán as “undemocratic, illegal, dangerous, and false.”
The letter further called for Chief Chell’s discipline because his “bombastic and bullying rhetoric” is “dangerous.” The letter also states, “Chief Chell is not free to use an official social media account to lie and spread falsehoods.”
The full letter, including every one of its signatories, is published below.
Ms. Cabán said Chief Chell’s rhetoric was dangerous and was part of a pattern of the department’s unwillingness to be held accountable for its actions.
“It not only threatens our democracy,” Ms. Cabán said in an interview, “but our safety as well.”
But Cabán can’t directly identify what is “untrue,” “dangerous,” or “threatening to democracy” in Chief Chell’s X account. But this isn’t the case for Ms. Cabán and her friends, particularly AOC.
Between virtue-signalling and misinformation (whether intentional or originating from sheer stupidity), AOC’s social media accounts are not committed to the truth.
In 2019, while discussing the Green New Deal at an MSNBC town hall, an audience member asked the New York congresswoman, “What lessons from the New Deal can we apply today?”
“When we look into our history when our party was boldest—the time of the New Deal, the Great Society, the Civil Rights Act, and so on—we had and carried super majorities in the House and Senate. We carried the presidency,” Ocasio-Cortez responded. They had to amend the Constitution of the United States to make sure Roosevelt did not get re-elected.”
FDR died in April 1945. The 22nd Amendment, which set presidential term limits, was not passed and ratified until March 1947, years after Roosevelt died.
AOC is a self-proclaimed socialist who previously said, “Capitalism won't always exist in the world” and “Abolish ICE.”
Public criticism of the NYPD's operations is nothing new, yet under Mayor Adams' leadership, there's a staunch defense of law enforcement's daily efforts. Unlike previous administrations, Mayor Adams actively stands for law and order, consistently supporting the men and women in blue.
NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell tells the truth and disseminates useful public information. He openly details how the department manages city safety. Despite his transparency, certain members of the City Council have responded not with dialogue but with demands for investigations into his public statements. These calls often seem less about genuine concern and more about political maneuvering.
Critics within the NYC Council, most of whom align with the far left, frequently challenge the NYPD's actions, ignoring the complexities officers face. This opposition from the Council contrasts sharply with the straightforward approach of NYPD leadership under Chief Chell, Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry, and Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard, who are deeply involved in maintaining order.
Furthermore, while some Council members criticize the NYPD for its budget and overtime expenses, they scrutinize the department's social media presence. They create a scenario where law enforcement leaders are damned if they do, damned if they don't.
Throughout these challenges, Mayor Adams has remained a pillar of support for the NYPD, showcasing a commitment to backing the force, unlike the previous two mayoral administrations, which failed to provide similar support. His stance underscores a pivotal shift towards prioritizing public safety and backing those who work tirelessly to uphold it.
Keep going, Chief Chell. Keep telling it like it is.