Indictment Of New Rochelle Kitten-Rescuing Cop Riles Police

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Detective Michael Vaccaro has been charged with attempted assault in connection with an off-duty incident on February 15.

Vaccaro is facing a misdemeanor charge related to the incident, the Westchester District Attorney's Office announced on Thursday. The detective claims that he acted to protect an elderly woman who was being harassed and threatened. Prosecutors, however, say the charge stems from the detective's actions after uniformed officers arrived.

Vaccaro was suspended without pay following the incident earlier this year. At the time, police officials said the matter was being referred to the Westchester District Attorney's Office.

SEE ALSO: New Rochelle Off-Duty Officer Suspended For Fight

The President of the New Rochelle Police Benevolent Association (PBA), Det. Christopher Greco, was quick to assail District Attorney Mimi Rocah's decision to prosecute the detective in what he described as "a politically motivated referral, politically motivated arrest and continued attack on law enforcement."

Greco vowed that the PBA would "spare no expense and will utilize every resource available" to exonerate Vaccaro. He went on to accuse Rocah of "hunting cops" while ignoring crime victims.

"Officer Vaccaro, who was 'off-duty,' observed and intervened in a violent domestic dispute when he lured an out of control suspect away from his intended victim (his elderly mother) and provided her an opportunity to flee to safety," Greco wrote in a statement. "During this incident, the suspect turned his rage on Officer Vaccaro. Officer Vaccaro, now acting in an 'on-duty' capacity, called for backup, identified himself to the suspect as a police officer and was repeatedly threatened with violence by the suspect. The suspect ignored police commands and when New Rochelle Police Officers went to arrest the enraged suspect, he attempted to punch Officer Vaccaro, causing him to defend himself."

Rocah, meanwhile, told reporters that there was more than enough evidence that Vaccaro inserted himself into a situation that on-duty officers already had under control. She rejected the police union's claim that she is anti-cop.

"While the New Rochelle PBA is entitled to its view of the facts, there is no place for the type of inflammatory and irresponsible language used which crosses a dangerous line," Rocah told the Westchester Journal News. "I have a long history of working with and strongly supporting law enforcement and work with them every day to keep Westchester safe."

New Rochelle PBA is not the only police union in Westchester to question the prosecutor's motivation. Calling the district attorney's actions "out of control," the Mount Vernon Police Association echoed Greco's sentiments on social media.

SEE ALSO: District Attorney Calls For Federal Investigation Of Mount Vernon Police

"The DA Mimi Rocah should be ashamed of herself," the union representing law enforcement in Mount Vernon wrote. "Punishing good cops for doing their jobs will lead to good cops not getting involved or hesitating to act. That will lead to a decrease in public safety and Police Officers being at risk of being hurt."

Just a few months after the February incident, Vaccaro was in the headlines for a much different reason. He earned accolades for helping to rescue and later adopting a kitten trapped in a car engine for nearly three hours before being saved with the help of heavy equipment.

SEE ALSO: Catastrophe Avoided, Community Rallies To Rescue Trapped Kitten

SEE ALSO: Update: Lucky 'Nugget' Finds A Forever Home With His Rescuer

According to a statement from the New Rochelle Police Department, Vaccaro is suspended with pay pending the outcome of the prosecution.