After the terror attacks in Belgium, GOP candidate Ted Cruz suggested that law enforcement should “patrol and secure” Muslim neighborhoods, prompting outcry from critics accusing him of targeting a demographic of Americans with racist authoritarian tactics.

New York City Police Chief Bill Bratton also tore into Ted Cruz for his outlandish call to action.

“I would remind the senator that he lives in the United States of America, and the statements he made today is why he’s not gonna become the president of this country,” Bratton said in a joint press conference with Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We don’t need a president that doesn’t respect the values that form the foundation of this country.”

Bratton’s comments were in response to a Ted Cruz Facebook post where he said the following:

“We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized.”

Cruz spokesman Alice Stewart also said, “We know what is happening with these isolated Muslim neighborhoods in Europe. If we want to prevent it from happening here, it is going to require an empowered, visible law enforcement presence that will both identify problem spots and partner with non-radical Americans who want to protect their homes.”

The Washington Post reported that Cruz’s campaign said if their candidate is elected president, his administration would revive the surveillance program formally used by the NYPD, adding that the program was shafted by Mayor Bill de Blasio because of “political correctness.”

Bratton added that there are over 900 active Muslim officers protecting the American people that Cruz cares so much about.

“I have over 900 very dedicated officers in this department, many of whom do double duty,” said Bratton. “They serve as active duty members of the U.S. Military in combat — something the senator has never seen.”

Watch the press conference below, via Mediaite: