NEW PALTZ – A New Paltz police officer has been suspended with pay after town officials learned of an impromptu rap song performed by the uniformed cop that was posted on social media.
Officer Robert Sisco performed the song that has angered the transgender community because one portion of the lyrics says “There’s only two genders, and Trump’s still your president. Boys have a penis, and girls have a vagina.”
New Paltz has a large population of members belonging to the LGBTQ community. Town Supervisor Neil Bettez offered an apology on the town’s Facebook page. “We are so sorry that the trust of many in our community has been broken and that their safety feels threatened,” the town board statement reads. “No one in our town should have to feel that way about our police. … We are all committed to repairing trust with our New Paltz transgender and LGBTQ+ community members.”
Sisco is a black officer who, in the video, claims to be from Newburgh. It is believed that he has been a member of the New Paltz PD for more than five years.
Bettez has indicated that Sisco has been placed on paid administrative leave because the video appears to have been recorded while he was in his New Paltz uniform, in a police cruiser belonging to New Paltz, and while on-duty. The police department has also started an internal investigation.
The full lyrics, excluding profanity, are:
Hey, hi, hello, this is officer Bob
Last name Sisco, first name Rob
I’m a man of many talents so many talents in fact
I know you’re thinking that I’m black so of course I can rap
Well that’s partially true and the truth does hurt
No I’m not Will Smith so f@%k I’m gonna curse
Spit facts over feelings because you’re feelings are irrelevant
There’s only two genders and Trump’s still your president
Boys have a penis and girls have a vagina
This whole coronavirus was sent here from China
Hillary is Killary we all know the reason
Where those emails at? We should hang her for treason
I try to keep calm cause it’s good for my health
But we all know Epstein didn’t kill himself
Just because I’m a cop it doesn’t mean that I’m bad
Every day I go to work and I put on a badge
But I’d rather use my words than resorting to violence
Cause I’d rather talk to y’all than a blue wall of silence
I grew up in the hood, I’m a Newburgh G
I might be 5-O, I’m still the same old me
And we all bleed red, whether white, black or brown
But we need to get together and shut this sh*t down
Stop lootin’, stop shootin’, stop fires and threats
It only takes two people I’m first so who’s next?
New Paltz officials will host a Zoom meeting about policing at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18. The topic of the video will likely be addressed by Police Chief Robert Lucchesi. It can be viewed at bit.ly/npaltz-meeting. It will also be available on the town’s New Paltz Government Meetings Youtube page on Friday, June 19.
