Looks like streetfighting has become a lost art with the PD.
I'm confused. Is this an example of cowardice or was the Lieutenant the problem? Rank can produce petty tyrants or martinets. Incompetence can be revealed with promotion. When that happens, command can be a lonely perch. I'm aware of two examples of this in the fire service, and Harry Ahearn used this character as a chief officer in his FDNY novels. Think of the movies "The Caine Mutiny" or even "Mister Roberts".
The other issue is officer self-defense. A nightstick requires one to be within arm's reach of a perp.
Around here, those guys would have been tasered ( I know, the subway). Failing that, the body cam footage would show a couple of nine millimeter round discharges.
nypost.com
