NYPD turns its back on Mayor De Blasio

[philosslayer]

Take a look at the video. Wow, just wow. Ridiculously immature and just wrong at this very difficult time.

We support you Mr. Mayor.

http://pix11.com/2014/12/20/video-nypd-officers-turn-away-from-mayor-de-blasio-as-he-enters-police-presser/

[ZX86]

1. Never surprised to see a Police Union

pass up an opportunity to make a bad situation worse.

[hifiguy]

119. They serve and protect only themselves.

They don't give a single rat turd about the public that pays their wages.

[NutmegYankee]

2. Fire them.

We can find good people to replace them who will perform their jobs with honor and integrity.

[sabbat hunter]

7. you sound like people on

the right who say we should fire all the cops, firefighters, teachers to break their union, end their pensions cause we can just find anybody to replace them.

If you fire them, what do you do in the meantime while looking for people to replace them? what about the union protections they have under their contract (and the law) to due process before being fired.

99% of police officers in the US are good people who serve with honor and integrity. it is the 1% who make the rest look bad.

[NutmegYankee]

8. I'm thinking from the aspect of insubordination.

That is usually an exception in any paramilitary organization. As for numbers, there was a very small number of officers who did this disrespectful act on their chain of command.

These individuals, who are going after the mayor because he supports changes to prevent deaths to POC, are not good people. They shouldn't have positions of authority - their behavior shows they respect none. If they do not respect their chain of command, how can we trust them to carry our their duties faithfully?

[branford]

23. The police do not work for the mayor, they work for the City.

Their executive is also the Police Commissioner, not the mayor. They are also not in the military or waived their First Amendment protections. There's no special police exception.

They are municipal employees covered by a strong collective bargaining agreement, and have all the constitutional and contractual due process and good cause protections that such status entails. They can freely and actively oppose the mayor in the political sphere. They did not disobey any proper orders, and neither the mayor nor commissioner could lawfully order any officer to provide political support to the mayor. I would also note that it is quite likely that the majority of the officers were actually off-duty when they turned their backs.

It is common for members of the DU to laud and support public employees and unions members when the take controversial stands or buck authority. However, public employment and unions membership are not always synonymous with progressive politics, and conservative employees and union members enjoy all the same benefits, privileges and protections as their more liberal brethren.

The job of the police is not to support the mayor, it is to fight crime and disorder and protect the populace. If, as you suggest, they were denied promotion or suffered other adverse employment consequences because of their politics, they could file a grievance and almost certainly win.

[NutmegYankee]

25. The Police Commissioner can be removed by the Mayor or Governor.

That would be a higher chain of command. I'm not saying they have to support the Mayor, but at least demonstrate that you respect their office. I understand the union aspect, but have my doubts about such individuals to faithfully perform their duties.

[sabbat hunter]

27. the current NYPD commissioner

was appointed by Mayor De Blasio and is doing a good job. He is doing what he can to make sure that hte officers do their job as per NYPD policies, procedures.

[NutmegYankee]

30. He is. The officers in question are upset about that change.

My problem with their action is they did this in uniform. In Civil Service positions, especially in paramilitary orgs, like police or firefighters, that's an enormous no-no.

[branford]

40. Bill Bratton is very well respected among both rank and file police and the political establishment.

He is almost legendary, with very successful tenures as police commissioner of Boston, New York and Los Angeles. He was even discussed as a replacement for London's Metropolitan Police Department.

He's one of the few people to effectuate zero tolerance policing while maintaining some level of racial harmony (at least as much as possible for a major city police commissioner)

It's the primary reason why someone as liberal as Mayor DiBlasio would recruit Rudy Giuliani's police commissioner. DiBlasio appears to have astutely learned the harsh lessons taught to David Dinkins about racially divisive policing and how even liberals demand safety in the big city. I would also note that union criticism has apparently only been against DiBlasio, not Bratton.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bratton

Public union members take collective political action all the time with little to no repercussions. If for no other reason, DiBlasio will not even attempt to pressure Bratton to discipline the officers because it would set a precedent that could be used against other unions or result in anti-union jurisprudence. The politics of trying to discipline mostly off-duty officers who peacefully protested a political speech that involved the execution of two fellow officers would also be disastrous.

I do not agree with how the officers chose to express their displeasure with the mayor. However, it was a small and relatively minor protest after a horrible event, and will be of little news value in the coming days unless the mayor foolishly chooses to draw further attention to it. DiBlasio is the mayor of NYC. If he can't politically handle some "disrespectful" cops, he does not deserve the position.

[still_one]

78. exactly. If I did something like that to my boss, I would be out of the door in a New York minute

[branford]

82. Are you a public employee covered by a collective bargaining agreement

and engaged in a collective labor action in a blue state and city with politically strong unions?

If not, what would happen to you if you showed disrespect to your boss** is wholly irrelevant.

** The police are employees of the City, not the mayor, and they take orders from the Police Commissioner Bratton, not Mayor deBlasio.

[Arcadiasix]

62. Well said

[951-Riverside]

9. So you've shown solidarity with the Police Unions but will they ever show solidarity with YOU?

Source


Source


Source

[hifiguy]

120. The first job of kkkops these days is

to protect the 1%ers from the masses. Simple as that.

[NobodyHere]

31. Well at least for teachers

they're more likely to sleep with their students rather than shoot them.

[sabrina 1]

39. The 'people on the right' love the cops, so that is a failed analogy. They love them even more

when they shoot and kill unarmed minorities. I can assure you they have left the evidence of this all over the internet for years now.

Any cop who is insubordinate to the chain of command, should be fired.

Any cop who has murdered an unarmed American citizen should be treated equally under the law, to any other individual who commits that kind of crime.

They are getting desperate because the outrage they thought would die down after Ferguson, thanks to more killings by THEM of unarmed citizens including a child, has only sparked more outrage. And it won't stop because THEY won't stop.

I can't imagine why you would object to law enforcement individuals challenging their superiors publicly being fired.

Any other citizen would be fired in any other job, if they behave in this way.

[octoberlib]

68. +1

[joeglow3]

83. And we claim to support rights under collectively bargaining agreements

Amazing how quickly people will throw away all support of main tenants of labor unions.

Sad...

[christx30]

115. People will always support bad things happening to

"the other". If a union at a textile mill or auto manufacturer were to get fired for disrespecting the boss, the board here would be up in arms. But as long as it's an organization they do not support, it's open season on whatever happens to them.

I hate cops. I just don't think they should be fired for turning their backs on the mayor. All politicians should be disrespected at all times. If they want respect, choose a respectable profession. Like a doctor, or astronaut. You get into politics for money and power. That's it.

[Logical]

46. You claim is that 99% of the police in the country....

have never unfairly stopped or roughed up citizens who did nothing wrong?

You claim is 99% of the officers want to clear bad cops out of their department?

[nomorenomore08]

49. The first is highly doubtful. The second is laughable on its face. n/t

[nomorenomore08]

48. 99%? Awfully optimistic, especially in light of recent events. n/t

[adigal]

90. PBA Lynch may be endangering the Mayor by inciting the cops to disrespect him

And possibly violence against him. Lynch is still a cop, so he should be suspended and have his badge and gun removed. It's no different than the head of the military telling troops to turn their backs n the president.

[branford]

96. It's actually very, very different that the military troop scenario.

Read any number of my posts and those of others concerning the shootings which describe the myriad of reasons, constitutional, statutory, contractual and political, why neither Lynch nor the officers who turned their backs neither will or should be subject to any discipline.

Inciting disrespect? Really?

[adigal]

100. Again, you are wrong

The NYPD cops are taught that they are a paramilitary organization. The chain of command is firm, as in the military. The consequences for disobeying an order are fierce. You sound like ou have a textbook knowledge of the NYPD, but not a practical knowledge.

And yes, thismkind of disrespect to the civilian leader of the entity you work for should be punishable by suspension and a formal review.

[branford]

104. My knowledge is of the actual constitutional and labor law.

I'm a trial attorney and actually practiced in these areas in NYC. Would you kindly care to explain your purportedly superior bona fides about the subject of military law and procedure, labor law as it applies to public employees and the disciplinary process, the mayors role and relationship to the police department in NYC, etc.?

Specifically,

First, the military is virtually unique in that its members voluntarily abrogate many of their constitutional rights while actively serving. Police and other municipal workers maintain their constitutional protections even though their organization is perceived as paramilitary.

Second, the police are unionized and subject to a collective bargaining agreement. They cannot be arbitrarily disciplined, and the reasons, type and extent of punishments are strictly regulated and subject to appeal.

Third, the police conduct constituted collective action by covered workers and therefore subject to additional labor protections.

Fourth, except under the most extreme exceptions, members of the military also cannot be subject to arbitrary discipline. They have an wide array of protections, both as to guilt and levels of punishment, dictated by the U.C.M.J.

Fifth, the police do not work for the mayor, they work for the City. Their executive is the Police Commissioner, and they answer to him, not the mayor.

Sixth, unlike the military, the Constitution and related law permits police officers to freely and actively oppose the mayor and other elected representative in the political sphere just as any other "civilian."

Seventh, the involved officers did not actually disobey any proper orders, and in any event, neither the mayor nor commissioner could lawfully order any officer to provide political support to the mayor.

Eight, it is quite likely that the majority of the officers were actually off-duty when they turned their backs, which would yet provide an additional, and quite substantial, layer of constitutional protections to their activity.

You are certainly free to believe discipline is warranted or anything else, but as I've explained numerous times here and elsewhere, the situation is not comparable to the military chain of command and discipline, and the officers will not face any discipline due to both legal prohibition and political impracticality.

[mcguireb1]

13. Free speech?

While many may disagree with their action, don't they have the right to protest in a nonviolent way like everyone else?

[NutmegYankee]

14. They basically insulted the head of their chain of command. (it's like insulting your supervisor)

In most orgs, including those with unions, this is a fireable offense. This act sows doubt that these officers would follow/carry out an instruction/order from the mayor faithfully.

[helpmetohelpyou]

17. Yeah that would go over really well in the tension they are dealing with now.

That's a terrible idea for the mayor

Think about this for a minute

[NutmegYankee]

19. He still needs to demonstrate just who is in charge.

And this seems to indicate that that is breaking down.

[helpmetohelpyou]

22. It would be terrible right now for him

to fire 15 or 20 NYPD officers because they turned their backs when he walked by.

I can't believe you really think this is a good idea right after what happened today

[razorman]

89. I do not envy the mayor's current position. No good options for him.

If he were to fire a bunch of NYPD officers, it would immediately lead to a massive epidemic of "blue flu" all over the city. What then? Right now, he has to decide whether to attend the funerals of the two murdered officers. Either way, he is going to be ridiculed.

[branford]

93. He wanted to be mayor of NYC.

I never feel bad for politicians when they have no good political options. It comes with the job. If he cannot handle such a problem, he has no business being mayor.

In any event, both due to broad constitutional and contractual protections that provide significant due process and limits the nature, type and extent of officer discipline, the fact that the group action of the police officers was likely a protected collective employment activity, the back turning was not actually insubordinate, most officers in attendance were likely off-duty, and noting that the police are answerable to Commissioner Bratton, not the mayor, means that deBlasio cannot directly discipline, no less terminate, any of the officers. Additionally, as you partially note, the union has strong public support, despite the feelings of many on DU, and ample means of retaliation, legal and otherwise.

Police funerals are a big deal in NYC, and given the current political climate, the mayor's failure to attend would be a VERY big deal for a very long time. The union cannot really stop him from attending, but they can certainly make it personally and politically painful.

I believe the decision on attendance really rests with the families of the slain officers. If they do not want deBlasio at either funeral, he cannot show-up without disrespecting the families and creating new problems.

I also believe that Commissioner Bratton is the key to solving the funeral mess. He is widely respected by the union and rank-and-file officers, the union has not criticized him, and his reputation is basically unimpeachable. Although many protesters have complained about his "broken windows" policing policies, they are widely supported and successful, he has proven he opposition to racist policing, particularly during his tenure as the Los Angeles police chief, and the reason why deBlasio hired Giuliani's police commissioner. I believe Bratton is the only potential peacemaker that can bridge the divides among the activists, mayor and police. DeBlasio would be well served by being in the company of, and speaking glowingly about, his police commissioner in the coming days.

[sabbat hunter]

28. Commissioner Bratton is in charge

not the mayor.

[sabrina 1]

41. I disagree. They are out of control and HAVE been out of control for decades now.

It's way past time to start reigning in this most corrupt 'organization'. They do not serve the people of NYC. They have been given the idea that they are an occupying army and have been caught numerous times over the past several years engaging in corruption and in bigotry and nothing has been done about it.

The reason was Bloomberg and Giuliani who used them as their 'personal army'.

Civilian police departments are supposed to protect the people, not become a threat to the people.

The whole police system in this country needs complete reform.

We have a military, we do not need another one in our cities.

[harrose]

86. I think Giuliani and Bloomberg should be indicted and tried...

... for creating the culture that led to both the deaths of Eric Garner and the deaths of these two cops. This is what you get when you allow the city to be ruled by Rethugs for twenty years.

[sabrina 1]

87. I agree, and Giuliani should have been indicted long ago for his

corrupt actions before 9/11, his refusal to negate a contract for the communication system used by firemen which was faulty and on 9/11 tragically caused the deaths of hundreds of Fire Fighters.

[adigal]

91. Giuliani got those radios in an insider deal, the blood of the firemen was on his hands

Hey, just following their lead. But it's true.

[sabrina 1]

103. I know he did and for months he refused to even listen when they tried to get the

equipment fixed. The Fire fighters view him as responsible for those deaths. Had their equipment worked, they would have received the warning that would have saved their lives.

Not to mention, he is responsible for refusing to listen to veteran anti terror agents that NYC was going to be attacked. He cared more about tourism and money, than the safety of the city. He also stored explosives in a place that everyone knew would be a target of terror if they ever struck, but refused to listen to anyone. AND he put his command center there also so no one could get to it that day.

He is a horrible person and should have been thoroughly investigated for his neglect and hubris which led to a city that was not protected when it needed to be.

[adigal]

111. +1000 nt

[former9thward]

52. Spoken like a CEO...

[NutmegYankee]

58. Not really. More a military culture.

Business has no code of honor or respect.

[former9thward]

64. No, the police are not de Blasio's personal army.

They have a contract with the city. The city does not get to operate outside that contract.

[NutmegYankee]

65. Giuliani and Bloomberg felt otherwise.

http://observer.com/2011/11/mayor-bloomberg-i-have-my-own-army-11-30-11/

“I have my own army in the NYPD, which is the seventh biggest army in the world. I have my own State Department, much to Foggy Bottom’s annoyance. We have the United Nations in New York, and so we have an entree into the diplomatic world that Washington does not have,” Mayor Bloomberg said.

I guess I'm disappointed that you are arguing with me. I was angry at these obviously racist asshole cops who hate the Mayor for daring to support #BlackLivesMatter.

[mythology]

70. But I would argue that Bloomberg and Giuliani were wrong in that assessment

So I can applaud de Blasio for recognizing that the police force isn't his to command like a personal force.

And at the same time, I can say that the cops are fucking stupid and petty for doing this.

[Reter]

94. The Mayor is not the head of their chain of command

Bratton is.

[avebury]

26. Based upon your comment,

the Joints Chiefs of Staff would have the same right to disrespect a President under the guise of Free Speech.


The members of the NYPD may have the right of free speech to voice their opinion as an individual but it is quite another matter to do so while in uniform and on duty and functioning in an official capacity.

[branford]

44. That's simply not true.

First, the military is virtually unique in that its members voluntarily abrogate many of their constitutional rights while actively serving. Police and other municipal workers maintain their constitutional protections.

Second, the police are unionized and subject to a collective bargaining agreement. They cannot be arbitrarily disciplined, and the reasons, type and extent of punishments are strictly regulated and subject to appeal. There is also an entire body of law about public employees conduct outside of work, it very strongly favors the employees, and your conclusory statements do not reflect the actual jurisprudence.

Third, the police conduct constituted collective action by covered workers and therefore subject to additional labor protections.

Fourth, the Joint Chiefs are presidential appointments, and thus political positions. The president can fire a member of the joint chiefs from his position at his discretion. He cannot, however, discharge them or a common military member from the service outside of the U.C.M.J.

[NewDeal_Dem]

60. ....

"the police are unionized and subject to a collective bargaining agreement. They cannot be arbitrarily disciplined, and the reasons, type and extent of punishments are strictly regulated and subject to appeal. There is also an entire body of law about public employees conduct outside of work, it very strongly favors the employees"

this is pure bs. the only public employees who get such kid glove treatment are cops. other public unions are being busted as we speak.

[sabbat hunter]

66. no real union busting in NY

and do we really want to support union busting activities or ideas?

You cannot fire the entire NYPD and think that it is not union busting. Nor can you fire a single officer without his/her due process.

We should hold up due process as an idea to strive for, not eliminated simply because some feel that that union is favored.

[R B Garr]

37. Protest what, though? Are any rights or wages being taken from them?

Do they have a right to abuse the public at whim? No. So what are they really protesting?

Whether they acknowledge it or not, they are in the midst of a public relations breakdown, and the mayor called for more accountability and professionalism from them.

Are they above the law?

Are they not accountable for their actions they undertake while in uniform in their duty to serve and protect?

Their message goes beyond their attitude towards the mayor -- they are telling the public they don't care about improving relations.

[sabrina 1]

42. They are protesting the 1st Amendment rights of the people. While claiming to be

exercising that very right.

[Marr]

69. Yeah, I don't understand either. It seems more like an assertion of their own status

than a protest.

[PoliticAverse]

59. You don't have a right to protest while on your job. n/t

[TorchTheWitch]

97. they weren't on duty

They were at the hospital to do a silent salute to the bodies of the slain officers as they were removed from the hospital. Do you really think all those cops were on duty at the hospital all in the same corridor? What possible duty could that have been? The hospital called in over a dozen on duty officers to arrest any cockroaches in that corridor?

And I'm not seeing where any union members aren't allowed to protest while on duty. Seems to me it's while on duty that union employees do their protesting... ever heard of a strike? Teachers in unions shutting down school to protest something about a new contract? Funny, I remember a lot of applause and approval here for NON-union employees at Walmart doing some kind of strike while on duty... how on earth would UNION employees have LESS right to protest on duty or not?

Police officers are civilians like any other civilians with the same rights to protest. The Mayor is not their boss nor are they required to be respectful of the mayor any more than any other civilian. I also seem to recall much jubilation here about one or two police officers that joined the recent protests and while in uniform.

Interesting how different the comments here would be if this mayor was a Repub.

[PoliticAverse]

106. You are not 'on duty' if you are on strike, which is why you don't get paid while on strike. n/t

[TorchTheWitch]

107. yet when on strike no one is on duty

That's what makes strikes effective - the work isn't getting done unless scabs are brought in to do it.

The point remains though, these officers were NOT on duty. If they were on duty they would have been somewhere else other than the hospital corridor where this took place, and it's pretty stupid to think they were on duty while lining the walls of a hospital corridor. They were at the hospital in uniform to give a silent salute to their fallen co-workers as their bodies were removed from the hospital.

All this whining about their turning their backs on the mayor is such crap. They're allowed to have a grievance with the mayor whether or not anyone else thinks it's warranted, the mayor is not their boss, and they have no more "need" to act respectfully to the mayor than you or I or any other civilian because they are ALSO civilians who happen to work for the city.

We don't even know what all grievance is they have with the mayor anyway since generally the media doesn't care about such things. And there had been things that go all the way back to things he's said during his campaign. This grievance didn't just pop up out of nowhere when these two officers were executed Saturday. Last month in an interview with ABC he said he and his wife instructed their biracial son about the "dangers" of police officers. Just last week he publicly called an assault on two officers on the Brooklyn Bridge that was videoed and all over the news an "alleged" assault. Protesters chanting things like "What do we want? - cops! How do we want 'em? - dead!" he's been entirely mum on.

Here's another similar chant during the Million March Al Sharpton organized where protesters in Murray Hill chanted "What do we want? Dead cops! When do we want it? Now!".

There's similar all over YouTube and that was on the news about police getting shot at or beaten and these "dead cop" chants. And what does the mayor have to say? Nothing. He calls a videotaped beating of two officers on the Brooklyn Bridge "alleged", tells his son he needs to be wary of the police because they're "dangerous" and has nothing at all to say about protesters in NY chanting for dead cops.

Here's an interview with Ed Mullins on di Blasio about these grievances, and this was before the two officers that just got killed...

Frankly, I think they do have a legitimate grievance. What mayor announces on tv that he tells his biracial kid that the police are dangerous, calls an unquestioned attack on two officers by violent protesters on the Brooklyn Bridge "alleged" and has nothing to say at all about protesters in NY chanting for "dead cops"? And even after two cops just got executed? For that alone I think they do have a legitimate grievance.

[PoliticAverse]

108. Good luck with your Fox News talking points. n/t

[TorchTheWitch]

113. you know, I suspected that would be the cop out

This isn't about Fox News. It's about what Ed Mullins said which he would have said on any news station.

Yet you have nothing to say about the actual subject at hand - the officers were not on duty, they have no obligation to act respectfully to the mayor, and they have legitimate grievance in how he's handled the situation by not responding at all to violence and violent rhetoric against the police and has even made divisive comments about them himself - ALL of them. Of course there's going to be bad apples in the department, and of course there should be changes to make things better, but this is causing divisiveness between the community and the police that's not been seen in 40 or so years. How helpful is it to actually CAUSE divisiveness between the community and the police when it's the police that have been doing more to protect lives than anyone else?

Communities that are poor and/or crime riddled want MORE police and not ones that feel like they've had targets painted on them which would only serve to make them slower to respond or worse more trigger happy. NOBODY wants that yet that's where we are, and we got there by the very people who should be standing up and condemning any violence or violent rhetoric not only not doing it but making even worse divisive comments that have done nothing but encourage violence.

If you'd actually listened to find out what the grievances are instead of poo-pooing that it was said on Fox News none of this would require explanation.

[PoliticAverse]

114. Sorry but poor communities don't want more racially-targeted stop-and-frisk or police killing

more unarmed people - the real source of the 'divisiveness' not some comment made by the father to his
african-american child about how he should be 'extra cautious' in encounters with the police.

[uponit7771]

75. Not on the job... does NOT apply

[JustAnotherGen]

81. Not in uniform or on the tax payer's time

[maced666]

56. kick em while they are down eh?

Maybe send out firing notices to coincide with funerals of the two cops?
Good grief....

[NutmegYankee]

57. Just got a little angry.

The police are attacking the Mayor because he supports "Black Lives matter". I have a lot of contempt for those officers.

[Dawson Leery]

3. It is time to break up the FOP.

[former9thward]

53. Spoken like a CEO...

[jwirr]

5. They gain nothing by this. Just more disgust.

[dgibby]

6. If I were the mayor,

I'd hire my own security team. I don't think he and his family are as safe as they should be. In fact, I'd call up the Nat. Guard and have the police force stand down (without pay).

[meow2u3]

15. If I were Mayor DeBlasio

I'd give the President a buzz and ask that PBO federalize the National Guard -- and then arrest the Patrolmen's Malevolent Organization's president, along with the offending "officers", for conspiracy against rights.

I'd also order the police chief to fire the officers who turned their backs on the mayor for cause: insubordination and disrespect of the "commander in chief" of the police force.

The mayor cannot call up the National Guard; only the governor or President can.

[sabbat hunter]

32. what exactly have

the officers done to deserve being fired? they can turn their back on the mayor and not want him to be at funerals. That is not disrespect nor insubordination as they do not answer to the mayor directly. he is not the "commander in chief' of the police.

[Ykcutnek]

36. Agreed.

They are creating a dangerous situation.

[branford]

45. You imagination is frightening and authoritarian in the extreme.

Virtually none of your suggestions are remotely legal, would comport with the collective bargaining and related labor rights of the NYPD, its unions or the officers involved in the protest, and demonstrate a frightening lack of knowledge concerning the First Amendment and due process. All that you suggestions would yield is immense civil damage awards to those you have targeted and possible criminal civil rights and corruption charges against the mayor and anyone who carried out his dictates.

Unless Mayor deBlasio suddenly suffers traumatic brain injury, he will not even consider such absurdity, both due to the clear law and adverse political impact, nor will the governor or president, and no respectable member of the military would follow the unlawful order to arrest the president of the PBA for the imaginary crime of "conspiracy against rights."

[adigal]

92. You think Lynch or these cops would protect the Mayor or his family?

You don't know NYC cops.

[branford]

95. Lynch is not a patrol officer, he the head of the union.

And, yes, the police will protect deBlasio and his family, just as they did for Bloomberg, Giuliani, Dinkins, Koch, etc.

The NYPD has over 35,000 officers, is one of the most diverse departments in the world, and the vast majority are entirely professional. Few officers, no less those chosen to protect the mayor, would risk criminal sanction, disgrace of themselves and their families and loss of their pensions, over deBlasio, no matter how much they disagree with his politics.

And yes, I know NYC cops. I'm a lifelong, politically active resident of NYC, and have dealt with the department in a number of professional capacities both before, during and after I attended law school and engaged in practice in Manhattan.

[adigal]

98. Sorry, you are wrong - he is still a cop

He has a badge/shield and a gun.

[branford]

101. Lynch wouldn't be assigned to protect the mayor,

if for no other reason than a legitimate conflict of interest, well apart from his actual duties both to the union and NYPD. Moreover, I never stated he was not a member of the NYPD, only that he was not a patrol officer.

However, your original statement related to at least dozens of officers and potentially all members of the union, not just Lynch, and therefore is still baseless and absurd. It's akin to stating any union member cannot do their job after they engaged in highly critical protest or even a strike.

You also claimed that I "don't know NYC cops." I indicated how I most certainly do, both professionally and as a lifelong resident. What exactly makes you a expert on the NYPD, no less on individual officers' fitness or willingness to fulfill their duties and obligations with respect to the mayor or otherwise?

You comments are long on rhetoric and slogans, but the absence of facts or even supporting statistics is unmistakable.

[adigal]

110. My husband was a NYC cop, and now you are nitpicking

So because Lynch is not assigned to protect DeLasio, it's ok to show him such disregard, turning his back on him? So it's ok for the Joint Chiefs to turn their backs on Obama? And when the cops are told they are military, they ae military.

I know you are a lawyer, and all, so smarter than the rest of us, but you are wrong. Sorry.

[adigal]

99. Unless you think he hand picked those cops at the hospital last night

then you have no evidence that ANY of them would protect him, since they ALL turned their backs on him. My husband was a NYC city cop and they are taught that they are a paramilitary organization.,so it would be OK for the Joints Chief of Staff and the military to turn their backs on Obama? That's close to a coup.

[branford]

105. Belief that they are like the military, does not make them subject to the same rules and procedures.

It's great that the NYPD has such esprit de corps, but they are not active members of the military who voluntarily agreed to abrogate certain constitutional rights, and it certainly doesn't remove or negate any of their constitutional protections as public employees or those provided by their contract with the City or from federal and state laws due to the officers' collective labor action.

Ask you husband if the dozens of officers at the hospital were actually on duty at the time? TorchTheWitch, in post #97, excellently explains the situation.

I, too, did not like it when the officers turned their backs to the mayor, and believed it was juvenile, but it was perfectly legal and will not subject them to any discipline, both due to legal and political reason.

[joeglow3]

84. I love how people make shit up as they go

I assure, you would HATE living in a country that behaved in the manner you just espoused.

[sabrina 1]

43. I agree, the NYPD is a threat to the Mayor and his family. He does need security

these people have been terrorizing innocent citizens for decades. And they are losing control and throwing temper tantrums over it.

They got used to Giuliani and Bloomberg supporting them no matter who they murdered or mistreated.

It's way past time to reign them in before they do harm to someone like the Mayor.

[cherokeeprogressive]

51. Mayors don't call up the National Guard.

[former9thward]

54. We are happy you are not the Mayor.

[riversedge]

10. Longer version on You-tube....

Several nasty comments from baggers also.

&feature=youtu.be

[riversedge]

18. Here is a bagger comment

Eugene Wratten
1 minute ago (edited)

All Americans: Please take a few minutes and send emails to the Whitehouse, your governor, congressmen and representatives! Let them know that you are fed up with President Obama, Eric Holder, De Blasio and other elected representative being race baiters working to destroy our country.
Reply
·

[Cha]

11. Whiny fuck ups.

[woolldog]

12. This is the juvenile mentality

that the citizens of NY have to deal with from the people who are supposed to protect and serve them. Just reinforces that it isn't just about a few bad apples but a culture of corruption.

[mcguireb1]

16. Not bad apples for expression

Two of their own were senselessly executed while doing nothing wrong. A non-violent protest does not equal a culture of corruption.

[woolldog]

20. ...

They are angry at DeBlasio because he has called out the cops on the Garner situation and racial profiling in general. Somehow in their minds calling the police out when they do wrong and not covering for them makes Deblasio responsible for this.

They have a warped us versus them mentality. And that's what has enabled the situation with NYPD to get as bad as it has. If they have the arrogance to treat the mayor this way, imagine how they treat a poor black person who has no power.

[NutmegYankee]

21. +1 nt

[nomorenomore08]

50. +2

[Marr]

72. That makes sense.

I didn't understand what it was they were "protesting" here. I wasn't aware of De Blasio's comments acknowledging basic reality in the Garner case.

[uponit7771]

74. +1

[uponit7771]

67. Yeap, sound like very very thin skinned people

[Historic NY]

24. The mayor & council should direct the Commissioner to start putting the leadership back

on patrol most have done an ounce of police work in years.

[AndreaCG]

33. Better yet replace the commissioner.

And find one who will do a genuine overhaul of training and not be afraid to suspend officers without pay pending investigations for serious charges, and not take months to complete the "investigations" and then hand out slaps on the wrist even when video shows obvious malfeasance.

[MADem]

29. Quite a few of those back-turners look like they don't meet weight standards.

I have to wonder if they meet fitness standards, as well?

Perhaps the Police Commissioner should centralize the fitness standard process, and not let those Boys (and Girls) In Blue manage their own oversight of that process? Bring in an outside, contracted agency to do the job...Hmmmm?


Maybe they would benefit from being assigned to some "community policing" type work, you know, walking a beat, getting out from behind the wheel of a heated vehicle? Maybe riding a bike when there's no snow on the ground? That might help them shed those spare tires, and put them in better touch with the community they serve?

Time to take a different approach, because the one they're using just ain't working.

[sabbat hunter]

34. many do actually

walk a beat in the warmer weather, out of the car, in the community. It is part of the community policing that Bratton supports.

[MADem]

47. I'll bet those chunky ones aren't doing much if any walking. nt

[hifiguy]

121. You nailed it in one.

[Dawson Leery]

38. Police jobs tend to attract simple minds.

It is unfortunate.

[former9thward]

55. Could you make the standard?

[baldguy]

61. The police officers who did this do not deserve to be police officers.

[PFunk]

63. Really crappy NYPD

Maybe it's time for NY citizens to start turning it's back on the NYPD (i.e. maybe remember them at budget time). And you wonder why the're support is dropping among the citizens (save certain small groups).

[LiberalElite]

71. Funny how those who always yell

about respecting authority won't do it themselves. This reminds me of the past six years of disrespect and outright insubordination displayed by the Republicans towards Pres. Obama.

[branford]

73. Insubordination???

I rarely agree with any Republican elected officials, but they are certainly under no obligation to obey or even respect the president or follow his orders. The president is not a king or tyrant, and we thankfully live in a constitutional republic with a strong separation of powers and freedom of speech.

The fact that an opposition party can so obviously oppose a sitting president is a feature of our civilization, not a bug. I doubt anyone here will use terms like insubordination the next time we have a Republican president and recalcitrant Democrats in Congress.

[LiberalElite]

88. Yes I believe there has been some but right

now I don't have time to find it for you.

[alp227]

76. Right wingers will cheer on the cops as "taking a stand" against that evil commie de Blasio,

right after condemning "narrow-minded" Michigan State students for turning their backs on rape apologist George Will.

[still_one]

77. Those officers who did that should be disciplined, and perhaps put on probation. The OP "NYPD", is

misleading, and does not represent ALL NYPD policemen

[Cha]

109. You're right.. it's not all NYPD. and they should be strongly disciplined.

[diabeticman]

79. I can't see the video. Won't play

[cwydro]

80. I agree

This is unprofessional in every way.

[1step]

85. just like cops all over this country have turned their backs on basic human rights

not to mention 'the law' itself.

[Rex]

102. Yep. It is symbolic and telling. Cops only care about their own.

Which is sad, since it is not true - but is the message being sent out to one and all alike.

[mwrguy]

112. Fire them

Jail the head of the PBA for incitement.

[christx30]

116. Question:

Who is going to arrest the head of the PBA? Do you know any cops that would do it, even if ordered to?

[mwrguy]

117. Federal Marshalls

[christx30]

118. And I don't recall the cops

rioting and trashing the place. I recall an act of disrespect toward an elected official. That's not an arrestable offense. So there was no 'incitement', as you say.
I'm glad people can't be arrested for showing disrespect toward elected officials. Do you think people that are protesting in defiance of the mayor's request for a moratorium should be arrested too? Or people that call Dubya a Chimp? Or people that say Mitch McConnell looks like a turtle?

[arthritisR_US]

122. So maturity is not one of the qualities they

look for in officers.