A sea of police officers has again turned their backs as Mayor Bill De Blasio gave a eulogy for fallen officer Rafael Ramos Saturday. Ramos was killed last weekend as was fellow officer Wenjian Liu when they were ambushed while sitting in their patrol car by lone gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley.
Tensions have been high between De Blasio and the police force since the grand jury failed to indict police officers in the choking death of Eric Garner. The mayor, who’s wife is black and children are mixed race – has been accused of not supporting the NYPD after saying he has spoken to his son on how he should act if he is ever stopped by a police officer and said his son should “take special care with any encounters he has with police officers.” De Blasio has also been accused of supporting demonstrators and protesters over police officers. Officers first turned their backs on the mayor as he arrived at a press conference after the officers were killed.
The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association’s Patrick Lynch said De Blasio was “throwing them [NYPD] under the bus.” Lynch had previously suggested that the Mayor not attend the slain officers funerals, however Officer Ramos’s family did not feel the same.
On Friday, a coalition of former officers, detectives and supervisors paid to have a plane pull a banner across lower Manhatten. The banner read “De Blasio, Our Backs Have Turned To You” The group also released the following statement:
“It is our opinion that Mayor de Blasio’s dangerous and irresponsible comments about his and his wife’s concern for their son’s safety at the hands of the NYPD fueled the flames that led to civil unrest, and potentially to the deaths of PO Wenjian Liu and PO Rafael Ramos, as well as the continued threats against NYPD personnel. The Mayor shows us no respect, and encourages the public to follow his lead.” The statement continues on with “Mayor de Blasio turned his back on us long before we turned our backs on him.”
[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Wiley Norvell ” author_title=”Mayor De Blasio’s Press Secretary”]
This is a time to think about the families and honor our fallen officers. Dividing people won’t help our city heal. We’ll continue to stand with responsible New Yorkers who are doing the right thing in a time of pain.
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