If the police are supposed to protect and serve, why does NYPD body-check bicyclists?

Question

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhxjxAMQXpY

Answer 1

What did you want the cop to do, hand the bicyclist a flower as he went by?

Answer 2

Sorry - your premise is wrong:  the cops have no duty to 'protect and serve'...

The Supreme Court said so; see link.

As to the video...the cop lost his badge over this...as he should have.

Answer 3

the police? that was onr...not the whoe nypd...d**n if you saw one person of a different race to yours do that would you hate that whole race of people?

Answer 4

It's all part of the new set of zeros the Republicans were able to hire because of 9/11.  They've got to shove somebody around - why not a bicyclist.  Those dangerous bicyclists just look menacing, and they might have bombs or something!

Answer 5

It is their duty to check to protect and serve you.

Answer 6

Cop are worthless one more great moment that show why we want to shoot cops.

Answer 7

omg, that f*cking a*shole! Seriosly, some police are crazy mof*ckers, but most of them are good people.

Answer 8

That was one Cop. The real question should be , Why are "You" basing your judgment of all Cops on the Few Bad Apples? Also that Cop got what he deserved!

Answer 9

I'm just guessing here, but maybe it's because the bicyclist was in the way?

Or maybe because it was a case of mistaken identity?

I must admit, there are one or two people on the planet that I would be tempted to body check, given the opportunity, and a lack of reliable witnesses.

I would never DO it, of course, but temptation remains.

The cops are human. Maybe he was just in a bad mood.