“That’s an emotional gun waiting to shoot someone’s kid.” That’s how one Reddit user summed up the public reaction to a now-viral video showing a New York Police Department officer aggressively confronting a man who was filming her team clearing a street market in the Bronx.
The footage, captured on Fordham Road and originally posted by @culture.20 on Instagram, shows officers approaching a fruit vendor and appearing to confiscate produce. When a bystander begins recording from the sidewalk, Officer Greeily F. Lopez-Bruno turns her focus on him. The man calmly explains he’s not interfering. Lopez-Bruno walks toward him and says, “Try me, papi.”
Those three words have become the moment’s defining quote, instantly recognizable to anyone who’s seen the clip. Social media erupted, with critics pointing to the officer’s aggressive behavior as part of a broader pattern of misconduct.
One Instagram commenter wrote that Lopez-Bruno “has 11 allegations and has actually been written up for abuse of power.” Another added, “She’s too emotional. She shouldn’t be a police officer.” Multiple users cited records from watchdog site 50-a.org, highlighting a long history of complaints, particularly from Black and Hispanic residents. Others didn’t hold back, calling her a “lil thug with a badge” and accusing her of using her uniform to intimidate rather than serve.
While Lopez-Bruno’s fellow officers were seen trying to pull her back during the altercation, many online felt their actions came far too late. A Reddit user pointed out, “They only started pulling her back once they realized she was being a dumbass on camera.”
In the Reddit thread, responses ranged from cynical to furious. One user described the NYPD as “the worst gang in the city.” Another added, “A good cop is an outlier. The rest just stay silent while this crap happens.” Several expressed concern that if this is how an officer reacts to someone with a camera, it raises serious questions about how they might behave in genuinely high-pressure situations.
Others highlighted the deeper systemic issue. “She’s not just emotional,” one comment read. “She’s unstable. She shouldn’t be carrying a gun.”
Still, not everyone was focused on police behavior. Some users argued that street vending is a real issue for small businesses, who pay taxes and licensing fees, while vendors often operate without oversight. One Redditor said this enforcement is something local store owners have long requested. But that defense didn’t sit well with many others, who insisted that aggressive, threatening conduct is never acceptable, even if a citation is warranted.
Instagram comments showed similar frustration. One user asked, “How you popping off cussing out a civilian? Bring her up on charges.” Another posted, “At any normal job, she’d be fired.” Others praised the man recording for staying calm: “Camera man asked for her badge number. She flipped. Another officer gave his badge number calmly. That’s the difference.”
This incident also drew connections to broader patterns in the NYPD’s approach to community policing. Many users recalled past encounters where vendors were allegedly harassed, equipment was seized, and officers escalated low-stakes situations. Some comments mentioned Eric Duprey, a Bronx man killed by police during a traffic stop in 2023, whose name has become a symbol for those calling for police accountability.
The NYPD has not yet released a statement about the officer’s conduct. There is no confirmation that internal affairs has opened an investigation.
Still, with the clip circulating widely and public sentiment turning fast, pressure is mounting. Social media users are demanding not only her removal but systemic change. “They keep giving badges to the wrong people,” one user wrote. Another added, “She only acts like this because her partners are there. Without the badge and the gun, she wouldn’t have that same energy.”
