Metro

Mike Pence lauds NYPD cops during visit to New York City

Vice President Mike Pence delivered some morale-boosting remarks to the NYPD during a Thursday afternoon visit to One Police Plaza that followed a rash of water-bucket attacks and other disrespect directed toward city cops.

“I just want you to know, even at times when it seems there may be some out there who don’t appreciate the men and women who serve on the thin blue line of law enforcement, your president, his vice president and the American people stand with the men and women on the thin blue line – and we always will,” Pence said.

Pence also said he wanted to share some “admiration from a friend of mine who lives just down the street and is just as big a fan of the NYPD.”

“I want to bring greetings from the president of the United States, Donald Trump,” he said.

Pence spoke to about 50 NYPD officials and cops, including members of the department’s semi-pro football team.

He congratulated the “Finest” on winning its 11th National Public Safety Football League championship on June 21 by beating the FDNY’s “Bravest,” 23-0.

Pence said he “very much appreciated that we got a letter at the White House” saying that the team “was more than willing to coming to the White House if we were looking to have a team there.”

“So we said, how about the vice president comes here and congratulates NYPD on a great effort?” he said.

In exchange, the team gave Pence a navy ball cap with its insignia and a shirt with the number “20” for the 2020 election.

Earlier, Pence spent about 45 minutes with top brass including Police Commissioner James O’Neill, Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence and Counterterrorism John Miller and Deputy Commissioner of Information Technology Jessica Tisch.

He was briefed on current terror threats and shown the NYPD’s high-tech surveillance network of cameras, license-plate readers and nuclear sensors that are monitored inside One Police Plaza and also linked to smartphones carried by cops and tablets mounted in patrol vehicles.

Pence praised the department for its anti-terror efforts, saying, “It’s not like [the terrorists] haven’t been trying, but the fact that there’s been no major attacks on this city or this country is a credit to every one of you.”

Pence’s daylong visit to the Big Apple also included an earlier “fireside chat” at the ninth annual “Delivering Alpha” investor conference at Manhattan’s Pierre Hotel.