New York City mayor criticizes some officers’ tactics, addresses daughter’s arrest

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio hardened his tone about a police officer who drew his gun on protesters Sunday and two police cruisers that drove into a crowd in Brooklyn.

At a news conference Monday, de Blasio, a Democrat, added to his previous explanation of officers' decision to drive into protesters who had gathered in front of them. He said he tried in his initial comments to criticize the officers while noting that some police were in danger earlier in the day.

"There is no situation where a police vehicle should drive into a crowd of protesters or New Yorkers of any kind," de Blasio said Monday. "It is dangerous, it is unacceptable. This is an extremely aberrant situation, and there were extenuating circumstances, I believe, because of what happened earlier."

The mayor also said he had temporarily removed the gun and badge of an officer who pointed his weapon at demonstrators outside Strand Bookstore. City officials were investigating the incident to determine whether there should be other consequences, de Blasio said.

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In response to news reports that his 25-year-old daughter, Chiara de Blasio, had been arrested while protesting, the mayor said that he did not believe she did anything wrong and that he admired her advocacy. He said that he found out about her arrest when a reporter asked about it and that his daughter told him she was acting peacefully.

"She was very clear that she believes she was following the instructions of police officers and doing what they were asking," the mayor said.

De Blasio also said the officers who told reporters about the arrest had done "something unconscionable" and that the Sergeants Benevolent Association, which represents the city's current and former police sergeants, regularly violated people's privacy.

SBA leaders did not immediately respond to a request for comment.