NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton has denounced officers' protest of Mayor Bill de Blasio at the funeral for slain Officer Rafael Ramos on Saturday. Ramos and Officer Wenjian Liu were killed by Ismaayil Brinsley as they sat in their police car on Dec. 20.
During an appearance on Face the Nation yesterday morning, Bratton voiced his opinion:
I certainly don’t support that action yesterday, Bratton said. I think it was very inappropriate at that event. That funeral was held to honor Officer Ramos. To bring politics, to bring issues into that event was very inappropriate, and I do not support it.
Bratton continued, emphasizing that the officers' decision to turn their backs to de Blasio as he spoke was a distraction from the ceremony. "He was there representing the citizens of New York, to express their remorse and regret at that death and it was inappropriate," he added.
Saturday's showing was so egregious, that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (who's been critical of de Blasio) even spoke out against it. "The mayor is not in any way to be treated with people turning their backs," Giuliani said on Face the Nation. "Doesn't matter if you like the mayor or you don't like the mayor; you have to respect the mayor’s position."
Still, in true Giuliani fashion, he attempted to explain why certain members of the NYPD feel betrayed by de Blasio. "He created an impression with the police that he was on the side of the protesters."
[via Daily Intelligencer and Mediaite]
