FOP vice president slams 'disgusting' video of hecklers taunting police at scene of officer's death
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Sacramento police officers were heckled by members of the community while investigating the scene where rookie officer Tara O'Sullivan was killed last week, and the vice president of the National Fraternal Order of Police said Monday that interactions like that are all too common these days.
Jay McDonald spoke with "Fox & Friends" host Steve Doocy about the now-viral footage in which a woman can be heard telling an officer that he deserves to be shot.
Calling the heckling "disgusting," McDonald said officers have faced more incidents of harassment and targeted violence in recent years amid anger in some communities over racially charged shootings by police.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"We have a history of division between the community and law enforcement, and we need to make sure that our elected officials and community leaders take this opportunity after this tragic incident to stand up and say this kind of hateful behavior will be called out for what it is," McDonald said.
MISSOURI OFFICER SHOT WHILE RESPONDING TO CALL HAS DIED, SUSPECT IN CUSTODY: POLICE
The footage, taken by a journalist, shows several officers being taunted by women in Sacramento as they put up crime scene tape around the area where Officer O'Sullivan, 26, was fatally shot in an "ambush" while responding to a domestic violence call. In January, another young female officer, 22-year-old Natalie Corona, was shot and killed in an ambush in Sacramento, according to the Sacramento Bee.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"We've had too long of an example where it is perfectly acceptable to use violence towards the police, ambush killings are on the rise across America," McDonald said.
DRAMATIC BODYCAM VIDEO DOCUMENTS AMBUSH THAT KILLED ROOKIE SACRAMENTO COP
McDonald continued said that regardless of the scrutiny and danger they may face from communities, officers will continue to suit up and attempt to make the world a safer place.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
"Even in the face of violence and hate like we've seen in this video, hundreds of thousands of law enforcement officers still put on a badge and gun and protect their communities each and every day," he said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
"We shouldn't be asking them to, to experience this kind of attack from people they're trying to serve."