This morning on NBC's Meet The Press, Chuck Todd asked NYPD Commissioner, Bill Bratton if Donald Trump did try to use the NYPD as a photo op after the Dallas shooting?
Bratton confirmed that, "one of his security personnel" did reach out to the department to "address the roll call" and he said, "We turned down that request. We don't allow the department to be politicized. And in as much as he has engaged in the political campaign, that would a politicizing of the department."
Here's the transcript from Meet The Press:
TODD: And Commissioner Bratton, can you clear up this Donald Trump situation from Friday? He asked you to address the roll call. What was the actual respect?
BILL BRATTON: Very specifically, one of his security personnel, former N.Y.P.D. personnel, reached out to our department about the potential for Mr. Trump to address a roll call. We turned down that request. We don't allow the department to be politicized. And in as much as he has engaged in the political campaign, that would a politicizing of the department.
I had a conversation with Mr. Trump, as well as with Mrs. Clinton later in that day that day, at their request. Both of them called me to discuss New York specifically, as well as the Dallas situation. Very productive conversations. But it's been overplayed in some respects in the media.
The New York Police Department has always been at the center of all attacks so it's natural that both candidates would contact them, but only one asked to address the roll call.