Metro

NYPD chief says cops shouldn’t ‘back down’ after Pantaleo firing

Cops should not “back down” from enforcing the law in the wake of former officer Daniel Pantaleo’s firing, NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan urged 36,000 rank and file members Friday.

“This is not the time that we back down, that we walk away from doing our job. Doing what we do in this city to keep people safe,” Monahan said in addressing Brooklyn North during a comp-stat meeting at police headquarters.

His Thursday remarks were emailed Friday department-wide, an NYPD spokeswoman said.

His comments comes days after Panatelo was fired for his role in the July 2014 death of Eric Garner, and after Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Lynch suggested a work slowdown as a result of the firing.

“I’m going to tell you right now that is pretty bad advice,” Monahan said during the comp-stat meeting. “Anyone who is going to  hesitate while they’re about to lock up a bad guy is endangering their own lives. We do not give criminals the upper hand in an arrest situation.”

In an interview with NY1 Friday, Monahan said: “My message is I don’t want my cops getting hurt because they hesitated and gave that criminal an upper hand.”

“We’re telling cops if you’re going to make an arrest you don’t slow down,” said Monahan. “You made a decision. Someone is about to be arrested. They know you’re gonna’ arrest them. Don’t hesitate if that guy starts to resist you because that guy could be resisting you so he can reach for a weapon so he could do you harm.”

“So once that decision is made…you don’t hesitate you don’t stand back you have to go and make that arrest,” said Monahan.