Embattled New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot apologized Monday for arguing with a top NYPD official over a request by the police for more face masks and other personal protective equipment early in the coronavirus pandemic.
Barbot's apology came after she reportedly told Chief of Department Terence Monahan in March that she didn’t “give two rats’ asses about your cops” when the chief put in a request for masks and other PPE.
After the remarks attributed to Barbot leaked out last week, demand for her firing or resignation came from police union officials.
Barbot, who was noticeably absent last week from some of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s daily updates on the pandemic, issued an eight-line statement Monday in which she acknowledged that the conversation “regrettably led to an argument in which words were exchanged between a police official and myself," Newsday reports.
Barbot said she “apologized to that police official then and today,” and also “apologized to the NYPD for leaving any impression whatsoever that I don’t have utmost respect for our police department.”
