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Published January 23, 2017
This is a rush transcript from "On the Record," January 8, 2016. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: Police officers across the nation on high alert tonight after one of their own was viciously targeted. In the wake of his attack, the NYPD is telling all officers to remain vigilant.
Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly goes ON THE RECORD.
Good evening, commissioner. The police must fear tonight that there's a big target on their back. I've heard this for days and months, but when something like this happens, it is just a renewed fear, is it not?
RAY KELLY, FORMER NYPD COMMISSIONER: Yes. It certainly looks like there is some sort of concerted effort against police officers. I think this Police Officer Hartnett is a real hero. It's a miracle that your guest have said that he was alive. He had the wherewithal to get out of the car after he's struck three times, fired at 11 times and shot this individual.
Yes, police officers have to be concerned. This type of urging is out there on the Internet. We don't know how this individual got to where he was, but it's something that has to be on every police officers' mind these days.
VAN SUSTEREN: Now, this police officer in a marked squad car alone. Do we have to sort of revisit, you know, how we budget these police departments, whether we put two in a car? I mean, these are rough neighborhoods. We're asking an awful lot of our men and women in uniform, but are we doing enough to give them the backing they need so they can do their jobs well?
KELLY: You know, New York City, there are two police officers in a radio car but it's an expensive undertaking in other cities. So it's something that has to be factored in. Ideally, you'd have two police officers in all of your patrol cars, but it is -- you know, it's costly to do. Perhaps it's done for a period of time. Perhaps it's done in particular geographical areas, but it's something that I'm sure is being examined now in police departments throughout America.
VAN SUSTEREN: Commissioner, what would you tell the Philadelphia police officers tonight?
KELLY: I'm sorry, say it again?
VAN SUSTEREN: I said what would you tell the Philadelphia police officers tonight as they're all, you know, worried about what's going on in this community?
KELLY: Hey, they're going to do their jobs. Police officers everywhere. Certainly, they're going to respond to emergency situations. This is not going to deter them. It's going to be on their minds, but they're going to perform. And that's just the way the profession is. It's really a calling. And so you wouldn't see any diminution of service, but they're obviously going to be concerned about their well-being and, of course, if something happens to them, the well-being of their family. They're human beings but they're going to do their job.
VAN SUSTEREN: You know, I know they're going to do their job and I know they work so hard. I know so many of them, but the problem is they go home, they got kids; they got wives. Their children are worried. They see the news. Their wives are worried. They hear about police being targeted, that this guy targeted them for Islam. I mean, their families, they are hurting tonight.
KELLY: Yes. It's undisclosed dangers of the job and also the environment that we find ourselves in with ISIS-inspired attacks here in New York City. A year ago in December, we had two police officers assassinated. Police officer Ramos and Lu just assassinated as a result of this rhetoric that's out there, these sort of war on cops.
So, yes, the job has become a lot more complex and a lot more dangerous in my judgment.
VAN SUSTEREN: Indeed, it is. Commissioner, thank you, sir.
KELLY: Good to be with you.
https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/former-nypd-commissioner-ray-kelly-on-isis-inspired-cop-ambush-police-on-edge