After turning himself in Tuesday, NYPD Officer Vincent D’Andraia was charged by the Brooklyn district attorney with assault, harassment and menacing. 

The charges are the result of an encounter with a protester almost a week and a half ago near Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

The officer allegedly told 20 year old Dounya Zayer to get out of the way, cursed her when she asked him why and then pushed her to the ground.

Pat Lynch, the president of the Police Benevolent Association, urged the public and authorities not to rush to judgement and to consider all circumstances all officers face during the protests over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.

“What was happening around them? They were sent out there. Their supervisors are next to them. We are asking for fairness. Review . We don’t say no. Criminalize it? It’s absolutely wrong," said Lynch .

Lynch joined with law enforcement unions from across the state to condemn what they call the anti-police environment now sweeping the city and nation. Lynch questioned why district attorneys are not aggressively prosecuting looters who attacked police officers during the protests, while prosecuting an officer like D’Andraia at the same time.

“To then demonize police officers as if we are the problem, as if we broke the windows, as if we caused the violence, that is absolutely outrageous,” said Lynch .

All the unions once again condemned Floyd’s killing and reiterated their support for peaceful protests. But they say they are being unfairly punished for what happened in Minneapolis.

“This isn’t stained by someone in Minneapolis. It still got a shine on it, and so do theirs, so does theirs. Stop treating  us like animals and thugs and start treating us with some respect," said Mike O’Meara, President of the NYS Association of PBAs.

They also criticized what they call a rush at City Hall and in Albany to approve several police reform bills. They argue that elected officials don’t fully understand the bills they’re approving or the message they’re sending law enforcement.

“We don’t like you, we don’t respect you, we will not support you, we want you to go away," said Richard Wells, president of the Police Conference of NY.

The NYPD is investigating several other confrontations between officers and protesters. After an internal investigation, the officer who opened his car door on a protestor is now on modified duty and will be disciplined.

These unions point out most of the interactions between police and the public are overwhelmingly positive.

Officer D’Andraia did not enter a plea. He was released without any bail being set. His next court hearing is set for October.