There is a scene at the beginning of my favorite Billy Crystal movie, “Forget Paris”, in which Crystal, as an NBA referee, makes a highly controversial call at the end of the game, which gives a win to the visiting team. As the crowd screams for his head, a burly security guard comes to his aid…and tells him “I don\’t want to protect you, but I have to”.
That was supposed to be funny. And it was. But some instances where people who provide security are coerced into going againt their own feelings are not.
With that in mind, here is the beginning of Larry Celona, Shawn Cohen and Danika Fears\’ article in today\’s New York Post:
PoliceCommissioner BillBratton is so worried his cops will turn their backs to his boss,Mayor Bill de Blasio,at another NYPD funeralthat he sent out a memo to shame them into good behavior, sourcestold The Post.
“Ahero\’s funeral is about grieving, not grievance,” began thefour-paragraph plea, which is being read at precinct roll calls aheadof slain Officer WenjianLiu\’s Sunday service.
Brattonwon\’t punish officers who choose to turn their backs to de Blasio -which was done in droves at the funeral for fallen Officer RafaelRamos – but he pleaded with the rank and file to shelve theiranger.
“Iissue no mandates and I make no threats of discipline,” the memosaid. “But I remind you that when you don the uniform of thisdepartment, you are bound by the tradition, honor, and decency thatgo with it.”
What does this mean?
It means that if police officers do not turn their backs on Mayor de blasio this time, the public will not consider it a change of heart, the public will consider it fear over what Police Commissioner Bratton might do to them, his promise of no threats notwithstanding.
In other words, just like the security guard in “Forget Paris”, they might not want to show de blasio respect, they have to.
In other words, it will be artificial respect. Nothing else.
Talk about a hollow victory.
And what has happened since police turned their backs on de blasio at the funeral of NYPD office Rafael Ramos that would have earned him any respect?
Well, the main police-related act of de blasio\’s was to re-appoint criminal court judge laura johnson to the bench for another year – after she released two thugs who threatened to kill police without bail just the week before. There were virtually no other reports of this outrage, this slap in the face of all police, in any other New York media.
Could he make his disdain for cops any plainer?
Incidentally, the New York Post, to its credit, reported the re-appointment of johnson – while most other New York media did not bother.
Evidently, bill de blasio is not the only one who disdains cops.
