New York – Mayor Bill de Blasio first spoke at a Staten Island church. Next, he gave an interview to a hip-hop radio station. That was followed by a blast email to his campaign mailing list and a press conference about a new training program aimed at reforming the New York Police Department.
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All of these carefully choreographed events were aimed at those New Yorkers disheartened by the grand jury decision’s not to indict a white police officer in a black man’s chokehold death, including members of the communities of color who make up much of de Blasio’s political base.
But those same remarks angered a series of police union leaders who on Thursday accused de Blasio of betraying the cleared policeman and his fellow officers, underscoring the widening divide between City Hall and the rank-and-file police that has in part defined the mayor’s first year in office.
“What police officers felt yesterday after that press conference is that they were thrown under the bus,” said Patrick Lynch, the head of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, which represents rank-and-file officers. “If the mayor wants to change policies, and wants us to stand down against crime, then say that.”
Hours after the grand jury declined to indict Daniel Pantaleo for the July death of Eric Garner, de Blasio gave an emotional speech at the church in which he connected the anger and sadness of the city’s minority communities with his own fears about interactions between the police and his son Dante, who is half-black.
“I’ve had to worry over the years, (his wife) Chirlane has had to worry: Is Dante safe each night?” said de Blasio, adding that the danger emanated from both the criminals and “the very people they (children) want to have faith in as their protectors.”
Lynch said that speech, praised by many for framing a citywide event on a personal level, painted the NYPD as pariahs.
“We shouldn’t be teaching our children that we should be afraid of New York City police officers,” he said. “We are the ones who are protecting our children. Your children.”
De Blasio, when asked about Lynch’s comments, denied criticizing the NYPD but said it was a “reality” that “a lot of people feel fear” of the police.
The moment was just the latest in a growing series of conflicts between the mayor and the police unions.
Before de Blasio even took office in January, the unions denounced his fiery rhetoric in which he criticized the police tactic known as stop-and-frisk for discriminating against minorities.
They also were skeptical of his close ties to the Rev. Al Sharpton, a longtime police critic, especially when the civil rights leader was given a prominent spot at City Hall to rail against Garner’s death and Police Commissioner William Bratton.
The unions — who are working on expired contracts — then pounced when Rachel Noerdlinger, one of Sharpton’s former aides who became de Blasio’s wife’s chief of staff, was found by the Department of Investigation to have omitted on her background check that she was living with her boyfriend, who had pleaded guilty of manslaughter and insulted police on his Facebook page.
After several other embarrassing revelations, Noerdlinger took a leave of absence. Meanwhile, the Sergeant’s Benevolent Association took out a full-page ad in The New York Times opposing Brooklyn’s 2016 Democratic National Convention bid because de Blasio “has not earned the right to play host” due to his “dangerous” public safety policies.
“The mayor has dropped the ball here by not showing any support for police,” said Ed Mullins, head of the SBA.
If the Mayor really believes that many people “fear” the police, just take away the guns and noone will fear them anymore. Duh!
Oh, so the “fear” of the might of the police protects us, doesn’t it? If there was no use of force, no fear of the police, the criminals would rule the streets.
I’m not saying there aren’t bad apples in the NYPD. I’m saying the fear of the police deters crime and that in turn causes difficulties in the lives of those who live by (commiting) criminal acts
“Liberalism is a mental disorder” – Michael Savage
Doesn’t it bother him that his members killed innocent people?
Does he really want NYC to look like Ferguson?
The average police officer can have some positive use, of somewhat demoralizing his sky high ego.
I’m no fan of DeBlasio but he’s dead right about this. A cop’s first concern must always be the safety of the citizens who he ( or she) has sworn an oath before G-d to protect and serve, including those over whom the cop may have to exercise authority. The cop’s own personal safety must always come last. If any cop has a problem with that he shouldn’t be a cop. It is my belief that cops should have the same rules of engagement tha I had to occasionally observe in some areas in Vietnam. Cops should not fire their weapons unless the are first fired upon. If I had to (very reluctantly) follow those rules in a war zone, I don’t see why cops, in a much less threatening environment, can’t do the same
Did anything happen to Dante??? No because in the US the Police can only start up with someone who broke the law. Unless De Blasio is raising his son to be a criminal then yes he should be worried unless he goes through his reform and then his son can…
He is going to get a lot of votes from this all the criminals and the prisoners will vote for him…
What do you expect ???
So irresponsible.
Mr Patrick Lynch, how about you send the right message, tell your cops “stop killing people”
What was the defence? That Garner should have been pysically much fitter, and since he was not, the police had the right to murder him?
What law is this? Nazi concentration camp law?
Poor Dante… Rachmunes