New York – Officials have sought to discipline a powerful police union head for standing near Pope Francis without authorization during the pontiff’s visit to New York City.
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The New York Post (http://bit.ly/1jr9lOW ) reports Sunday that Port Authority Officer Paul Nunziato ignored orders of three superiors to leave the pope’s side at the 9/11 memorial on Sept. 25.
The Post reports the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association president wasn’t on papal duty and didn’t wear his police cap during the visit.
A defiant Nunziato told the newspaper he was cleared by the Secret Service and had earned the right to attend Pope Francis’ visit because 37 Port Authority Police Department officers died during the 2001 terrorist attacks.
A Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesman declined to comment to The Post.
The above scenario reminds me of an unpleasant incident which took place when George Herbert Walker Bush (#41), was President. It was in either 1990 or 1991. Bush made a visit to Columbus, Ohio, and was returning to the Port Columbus International Airport, for his departure. Evidently, there was a mixup between who was authorized by the Secret Service and the Columbus Police Department, to be near Bush. There was one Columbus cop who didn’t use the proper authorization code, when he approached the Secret Service. A confrontation started, and a fist fight actually broke out between the Secret Service, and the Columbus, Ohio police officer. It really didn’t surprise me when I read about that incident, as there are incompetent cops, which exist in every city in the USA. It is very important that security details are ironed out in advance, to prevent these incidents from occurring.
I’m not sure why he could not have put on a Yarmulka, the other guy had one.