New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio met on Tuesday with police union leaders who have criticized him since the ambush less than a week ago that left two New York City police officers dead.
The two-hour meeting, which took place at the new Police Academy in Queens, was a private opportunity to air grievances between union officials who have been skeptical of the mayor and his administration, according to the New York Times.
Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, who said one week ago that the mayor had “blood on his hands” for the deaths of the officers, said the meeting did not resolve anything, according to Reuters.
[quote text_size=”small” author=”– Patrick J. Lynch” author_title=”President of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association”]
Our thought here today is that actions speak louder than words, and time will tell.
[/quote]
The meeting did not appear to give any real results or soothe the relationship between the mayor and the city’s police force.
Protests have ignited throughout New York City since a Staten Island grand jury failed to indict a white officer in the death of an unarmed black man. Lynch said he felt that de Blasio threw police “under the bus,” according to Fox News.
De Blasio angered police by saying he understands concerns of protesters who have vilified police as being hostile toward black citizens. He also said he has warned his biracial teenage son of the “dangers” of police encounters.
At public events since the ambush, including the funeral of Officer Ramos, some police officers turned their backs to the mayor.
