George Floyd death: Entire Buffalo police team resigns in support of suspended officers

Police in Buffalo, NY, shoved an old man to the ground - he can be seen bleeding from his ear and twitching. Video / Josh Albert

WARNING: Distressing video

A total of 57 officers have resigned from their positions with the Emergency Response Team (ERT) in Buffalo, New York State, in solidarity with their two colleagues who were suspended after they were filmed shoving a 75-year-old man to the ground and walking past as they left him to bleed.

The two officers have been suspended without pay and are under criminal investigation after the video of them shoving Martin Gugino shocked the world.

As a consequence of the officers' suspension, the entire Buffalo ERT team has resigned, the Buffalo Police Benevolent Association (PBA) said.

All 57 officers on the Buffalo PD's Emergency Response Team resigned from the squad. Photo / Twitter/Facebook

"Fifty-seven resigned in disgust because of the treatment of two of their members, who were simply executing orders," PBA president John Evans said.

The 57 officers have not resigned from the police department, only the ERT.

Gugino is in stable but serious condition in hospital.

The 75-year-old man was captured in shocking video being pushed to the ground by police officers in Buffalo amid protests over the death of George Floyd.

Gugino is a longtime peace activist who has protested for causes including nuclear disarmament and action on climate change, according to Buffalo News.

A friend described him as a "gentle person" who would never clash with authorities.

"He would never resist physically any kind of orders … he's a bit frail, not because of his age. He has some health problems," Terrence Bisson told the newspaper.

The video taken by a reporter from the local public radio station WBFO, showed Gugino approaching a line of officers in riot gear.

One officer pushes him with a baton and a second one with his hand. The sound of a crack is heard and then blood trickles from his head.

"I was deeply disturbed by the video," Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said in a statement. "After days of peaceful protests and several meetings between myself, police leadership and members of the community, tonight's event is disheartening."