New York City Hall Support Your Local Police Rally
The following is the speech by NYPD Captain Joe Concannon (Ret.) at the steps of City Hall for the “Support Your Local Police” rally and press conference.
Hi, I’m Captain Joseph Concannon.
Captain Concannon speaks at rally
Were here today, because we support Public Safety, and we Support Our Police and all the men and women in law enforcement!
We’re here today because we respect the criminal justice process, we respect the rule of law, we respect our police officers and we want them to know we fully support them. These issues are not Democratic nor are they Republican – Public Safety impacts every New Yorker and everyone who visits our City.
Police work on any given day can be very challenging. New Yorkers call the police to get answers to their problems and not to get “a rush to judgment”. Police officers respond to millions of calls for service here in New York City and all over our nation and the world and sometimes have but seconds to respond. Police officers do an outstanding job and we continue to call upon the public to have patience as the criminal justice process goes to work.
Speakers at the rally: Janet Maderik, wife of New York City Police Officer, Ann Schockett, President NYS Federation of Republican Women, Deroy Murdock, FOX News commentator, Christine Porter, wife of a New York City Police Sergeant
Police work only becomes increasingly more difficult and more challenging when the police or others “rush to judgment”. We have seen in case after case from Tampa to Ferguson to Staten Island that the repeated “rush to judgment” by not only professional agitators, but by those “we” have elected to public office spins the false narrative that the police are out of control. The public trust calls for those officials not to rush to judgment but to connect the dots, follow the evidence dispassionately and to patiently wait as case after case is processed in our criminal justice system. This is how the professionals handle difficult police case work. No one and certainly not ANY public official should violate the public trust or be a party to any effort to intentionally mislead the public at any time, but especially when it comes to the work of the police department.
Lady Justice is an image which many of you have seen. She stands between two scales of justice blindfolded. Justice is blind as she applies the law. This is no different today than it was at the founding of our nation.
We are here today to shine a light on Brooklyn, NY. A borough where police work is challenging, and where public housing developments are in fact a very dangerous place to live. Peter Liang a young police officer is living a police officer’s nightmare, an accidental but fatal police shooting. Again New Yorkers call for patience, connecting the dots and not a rush to judgment. For sure young Peter has a very long road ahead of him, but Peter, his family, his friends and supporters should feel confident that the criminal justice process is being fairly applied. Remember, Lady Justice is blindfolded and should apply the law fairly to all.
During the past few months I asked you “Who Speaks for Us?” Who speaks for You…who speaks for You…Who speaks for me? WHO SPEAKS FOR US?
1000’s attend rally in a massive display of support and gratitude for our NYPD!
I am speaking here today to give New Yorkers a strong voice in support for public safety. During our Support Your Local Police Rallies and Press Conferences we have met people from all different walks of life, from all over Queens County and including the Rockaways too, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Long Island people who are just like you and I. I will continue to speak out in support for the men and women who keep our City, State and Nation safe. Your voices have been heard and we will continue to echo the theme Support Your Local Police!
We’re here today, united as New Yorkers together as Americans, citizens of the world, public safety is the cornerstone of civilization Law and Order, the rule of law is the very fabric of society whether you live in NYC, Main street USA or any street in the world. The vivid images of the men and women who put on the public safety uniform have shown us the valor, courage and bravery of Law Enforcement professionals from around the world. My voice, and your voice will be OUR voice from New York City to the world as we say SUPPORT OUR POLICE.
