It stands to reason that New York City mayor Bill de Blasio, a hardline leftist, with a history of criticizing aggressive police procedures, was never going to be a big hit with the police union.
But his reaction to the Eric Garner incident, in which Garner died after being physically taken down to the ground by police, apparently was the last straw.
From Tara Palmeri\’s article in the New York Post:
Sourcessay the revolt was sparked by the mayor\’s lack of support for theNYPDfollowing the grand jury\’s decision not to indict the officerinvolved in the death of Staten Islander EricGarner.
DeBlasio addedfuel to that fire in a press conference about the grand-jury votewhere he said he had warned his 17-year-old, mixed-race son, Dante,to be careful around police officers.
“We\’vehad to literally train him, as families have all over this city fordecades, in how to take special care in any encounter he has with thepolice officers who are there to protect him,” the mayor said.
PBAPresident Patrick Lynch reacted to that by accusing the mayor ofthrowing cops “under the bus.”
So how has the Patrolmen\’s Benevolent association reacted to this? It has put out a flyer, containing the following statement, which officers are encouraged to sign and submit to their PBA delegate:
“I,as a New York City police officer, request that Mayor Bill de Blasioand City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito refrain from attendingmy funeral services in the event that I am killed in the line ofduty.
“Dueto Mayor de Blasio and Speaker Mark-Viveritos consistent refusalto show police officers the support and respect they deserve, Ibelieve that their attendance at the funeral of a fallen New YorkCity police officer is an insult to that officer\’s memory andsacrifice.”
This is a remarkable document. And one that can have truly dangerous, disturbing results.
New York Mayors traditionally attend the funerals of fallen officers. Therefore:
-If a great many officers submit the statement it puts the police at war against the Mayor, and sets up a potentially explosive situation if another officer is killed in the line of duty and Mayor de Blasio insists on attending;
-If relatively few submit the statement, it severely damages the PBA – not just regarding incidents like the Eric Garner death but overall — something I assume most officers do not want to have happen;
-If a much higher percentage of White officers sign it than Black officers, it will significantly worsen race relations – both in the police force and the city;
-If a high percentage of Black officers sign it, they may be treated as pariahs by a large percentage of other Blacks – it might even have the potential to put them and their families in danger.
Personally, I don\’t blame the PBA for being angry and frustrated by Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Mark-Viveritos and the other members of this administration (nor, it should be pointed out, do I blame Mayor DiBlasio for warning his son, who clearly looks Black and wears an Afro, to be careful about what he says/does).
But, all things considered, I wish the statement had never been sent out.
However understandable police officers\’ feelings may be towards de Blasio & Co., all this can do is pour salt – lots of it – on wounds we already know are there. It can\’t make things better, but very clearly can make things worse.
I hope the PBA thinks things over, and decides to rescind its statement and the request that it be signed/submitted.
