The brother of 27-year-old New York City Police Department officer Chowdhury Nafees, who was beaten by two men in the Bronx Saturday, told Fox News Digital the suspects in the attack “escalated” their brutality after finding out Nafees was a police officer.

That has prompted conversations about use-of-force policies that may prevent law enforcement from protecting themselves.

Wayne Lucas, 23, and Taveon Hargrove, 23, were arrested in the assault that left Nafees, who was in uniform on his way home from work, “horribly mutilated.”

Just before 4 a.m. Saturday, Lucas and Hargrove allegedly forced the off-duty rookie officer to the ground, stomping on his face and causing multiple fractures.

They then allegedly held a knife to his throat before forcibly removing his wallet, iPhone and gun and running away.

Chowdhury Nafees was in the hospital for days after being transported by EMS in critical condition. (Fund the First)

“He’s driven by honor, driven by the necessity of the people,” he added. “He’s one of those few people who will come [to] the front, and take the risk to do what’s right for everybody.”

As of Friday, Fund the First, a fundraising platform started by Garland, raised just over $20,000 in donations for Nafees’ family.