In an expletive-filled tirade, Holyoke City Councilor Israel Rivera called the police racist and begged to get out of an OUI arrest, citing his position, according to body camera and cruiser footage.
Rivera was pulled over by a State Police Trooper just before midnight on Dec. 20 for blowing a red light and was arrested after failing a field sobriety test that was caught on camera.
The footage of the arrest was released to the Herald by the Holyoke Police Supervisors’ Union, Local #409, and Holyoke Police Patrolmen’s Union, Local #388, who want the city to take action over the arrest.
Lt. Andy DiNapoli, president of the supervisors’ union, called the footage “damning.” He expressed frustration over what he said was a lack of action from city officials. Originally, the union had asked that Rivera, who is currently vice president of the City Council, be removed from the city’s public safety committee, which he was, and to refrain from voting on police issues. But after seeing the footage, DiNapoli said Rivera should resign.
“Any sane person would say he has to go,” DiNapoli said.
Rivera could not be reached by phone or email. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia and City Council President Tessa Murphy-Romboletti could also not be reached for comment.
DiNapoli said the unions felt it was important for the public to see the footage, choosing to release about 20 minutes worth of clips from what was originally two hours of video.
In the footage, Rivera is initially apologetic to the trooper who pulls him over, saying sorry for going through a red light. When asked where he had been prior to the stop, Rivera had difficulty saying where he was and admitted to having a few drinks before driving.
The trooper asked Rivera to perform a series of field sobriety tests, including walking in a straight line and balancing on one foot.
“Even if I was sober, I would not get that, but I’m just telling you that right now,” Rivera said to the officer, laughing.
The trooper placed him under arrest and in handcuffs.
“I’m a city councilor,” Rivera told the officer repeatedly. “Man, you can’t work with me, though?”
Once inside the cruiser, Rivera asked the trooper to call the mayor, saying, “Everyone else gets a pass.”
“I already explained this to you, we’re not going to let you go because of who you are,” the trooper said.
Handcuffed and belted into the seat, Rivera started swearing in Spanish.
“I am the one that makes your (expletive) budget n(word),” he said.
Rivera banged his head against the window in the back seat, prompting a trooper to tell him to, “Knock it the (expletive) off! Knock it the hell off!”
“I’m not a regular n(word),” Rivera yelled back.
At some points, Rivera began to cry, saying, “I hate y’all n(word) bro… I don’t know why the (expletive) I approve your budget every time.”
On the way to the station, Rivera started to ask the trooper driving why he couldn’t have received some discretion and a citation rather than an arrest.
“Why would I allow someone who is driving drunk to drive away?” the trooper answers.
The cruiser camera caught Rivera saying that Black Puerto Ricans don’t get a pass, but white people do, and begging that he would pay if he had to get out of the situation.
“I didn’t do nothing wrong,” he said, before adding, “yes, I was inebriated, you got that…”
Once at the station, footage of Rivera shows him complaining about racism, telling officers that he’s the mayor’s best friend, and contemplating how he can defund the police.
Telling an officer about a contract negotiation with the Holyoke Police Department, Rivera said they “want more money for nothing and they don’t do (expletive).”
River is also seen speaking on the phone, admitting, again, “I’m drunk as (expletive).”
Rivera pleaded not guilty to operating a motor vehicle under the influence and is scheduled back in court on Monday.
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