NY mayor eulogizes officer as cops outside turn backs

[webfact]

Mayor eulogizes officer as cops outside turn backs
By JONATHAN LEMIRE and MIKE BALSAMO

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of police turned their backs Sunday as Mayor Bill de Blasio eulogized an officer shot dead with his partner, repeating a stinging display of scorn for the mayor despite entreaties to put anger aside.

The show of disrespect came outside the funeral home where Officer Wenjian Liu was remembered as an incarnation of the American dream: a man who had emigrated from China at age 12 and devoted himself to helping others in his adopted country. The gesture among officers watching the mayor's speech on a screen added to tensions between the mayor and rank-and-file police even as he sought to quiet them.

"Let us move forward by strengthening the bonds that unite us, and let us work together to attain peace," de Blasio said at the funeral.

Liu, 32, had served as a policeman for seven years and was married just two months when he was killed with his partner, Officer Rafael Ramos, on Dec. 20. Liu's longtime aspiration to become a police officer deepened after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, his father, Wei Tang Liu, said through tears.

And as he finished his daily work, the only child would call to say: "I'm coming home today. You can stop worrying now," the father recalled during a service that blended police tradition with references to Buddha's teachings.

Dignitaries including FBI Director James Comey and members of Congress joined police officers from around the country in a throng of over 10,000 mourners.

"When one of us loses our lives, we have to come together," said Officer Lucas Grant of the Richmond County Sheriff's Office in Augusta, Georgia.

After hundreds of officers turned their backs to a screen where de Blasio's remarks played during Ramos' funeral last week, Police Commissioner William Bratton sent a memo urging respect, declaring "a hero's funeral is about grieving, not grievance."

But some officers and police retirees said they still felt compelled to spurn the mayor. Police union leaders have said he contributed to an environment that allowed the officers' slayings by supporting protests following the police killings of Eric Garner on Staten Island and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

"The mayor has no respect for us. Why should we have respect for him?" said retired New York Police Department Detective Camille Sanfilippo, who was among those who turned their backs Sunday. Retired NYPD Sgt. Laurie Carson called the action "our only way to show our displeasure with the mayor."

Officers spun back around when Bratton took the podium to speak. Later, de Blasio stood outside the funeral home, to no visible reaction from officers, observing an honor guard and other rituals.

At Liu's wake Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo called the officers' slayings a tragic story of "pure and random hatred." Cuomo didn't attend the funeral, which came as he prepared to bury his father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo.

The officers' killer, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, committed suicide shortly after the brazen daytime ambush on a Brooklyn street. Investigators say Brinsley was an emotionally disturbed loner who had made references online to the killings this summer of unarmed black men at the hands of white police officers, vowing to put "wings on pigs" in retaliation.

The deaths strained an already tense relationship between city police unions and de Blasio. Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch, whose rank-and-file union is negotiating a contract with the city, turned his back on the mayor at a hospital the day of the killings and said de Blasio had "blood on his hands."

Many people, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, have since pressed all parties to tone down the rhetoric. On Saturday, officers standing outside Liu's wake saluted as the mayor and commissioner entered.

After Sunday's show of disdain, Lynch said officers "have a right to have our opinion heard, like everyone else that protests out in the city" and noted that officers' "organic gesture" was outside the service. The mayor got a respectful reception among police officials inside.

The NYPD declined to comment, and de Blasio spokesman Phil Walzak said the mayor was focused on honoring the fallen officers.

But outside, retired NYPD officer John Mangan stood with a sign that read: "God Bless the NYPD. Dump de Blasio." And Patrick Yoes, a national secretary with the 328,000-member Fraternal Order of Police, praised Lynch's stance toward the mayor.

"Across this country, we seem to be under attack in the law enforcement profession," Yoes said. "We are public servants. We are not public enemies."

George Breedy, a lieutenant with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Department in Louisiana, said he wouldn't protest de Blasio. "We're here to pay respect to the officers," Breedy said.

Liu's funeral arrangements were delayed so relatives from China could travel to New York, where he married Pei Xia Chen this fall.

"He is my soul mate," she said. "My hero."
___

Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-05

[Boon Mee]

Maybe that left wing hack deBlassio will get a clue that his support for cop killers is wrong?

[Jingthing]

But -- he is DA MA-YAH. Respect the offuz if not da man! I think the cop's behavior in turning their backs is despicable.

Edited January 5, 2015 by Jingthing

[CMNightRider]

But -- he is DA MA-YAH. Respect the offuz if not da man! I think the cop's behavior in turning their backs is despicable.

There is something despicable kicking off but it isn't coming from the New York City, police officers that turned their backs on Mayor de Blasio. The mayor, along with Obama and Holder fueled hatred towards the police with their nonsensical political rhetoric. Obama, Holder, and de Blasio, are the ones who turned their backs on our nations police.

[Living in a cartoon]

JT

But -- he is DA MA-YAH. Respect the offuz if not da man! I think the cop's behavior in turning their backs is despicable.

There JT goes again.

Do you know any police officers? Any police officers among your circle of friends?

A retired black cop from Baltimore, a friend that I met here in Thailand, is a good example.

His main concern is making sure he lives safely here, understandable considering the moments of sheer terror you would encounter in that career.

The mayor deserved that show of disrespect. Police officers are citizens too, have the right to peaceably assemble and express their views.

[ABCer]

But -- he is DA MA-YAH. Respect the offuz if not da man! I think the cop's behavior in turning their backs is despicable.

RespectFULLY disagree.

It is the man in the chair we respect, not the chair!

[Ulysses G.]

But -- he is DA MA-YAH. Respect the offuz if not da man! I think the cop's behavior in turning their backs is despicable.

The man is an imbecile and he has proven that he does not deserve the office. Good for those officers for making their disdain for this man very obvious.

[ezzra]

If I were him, I'd prepare a eulogy for his career....

[Bangkok Herps]

It just sounds a bit childish to me.

I'm more interested in the fact that the NYPD mostly stopped doing their jobs recently:

NY Post: Arrests Plummet Following the Execution of Two Cops

Even the Post, one of the most conservative papers out there, thought that just plain was not okay:

New York’s Finest have no bigger booster than The New York Post.

We understand what it must be like for cops to hear protesters calling for “dead cops” or likening police to the KKK. We appreciate how they must feel themselves under siege, especially after the cold-blooded executions of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.

And we know how distressing it must be to watch their mayor talk publicly about how he’s raised his son to fear the NYPD and at times seem to side with protesters rather than his own police force.

Of course, all they're doing is proving the narrative - that they've been arresting people they don't have to. In fact, chances are they've just been making the problems worse the whole time. In fact, others are pointing out that the police are actually stopping the exact problems the residents were complaining about, and that this unwittingly may be the exact thing we need:

The Post, which enthusiastically championed the NYPD during this year's turmoil, portrayed this slowdown in near-apocalyptic terms—an early headline for the article above even read "Crime wave engulfs New York following execution of cops." But the police union's phrasing—officers shouldn't make arrests "unless absolutely necessary"—begs the question: How many unnecessary arrests was the NYPD making before now?

Policing quality doesn't necessarily increase with policing quantity, as New York's experience with stop-and-frisk demonstrated.

Edited January 5, 2015 by metisdead
14) You will not post any copyrighted material except as fair use laws apply (as in the case of news articles). Please only post a link, the headline and the first three sentences.

[Ulysses G.]

Of course, all they're doing is proving the narrative - that they've been arresting people they don't have to.

It is also probably people that they rather not arrest in the first place, but are compelled to by the law and by the people at the top, who tell them what to do. It is not the officers fault that they have to enforce silly, minor laws,

[gpdjohn]

Bingo, UG...spot on.

( I'm a retired US ( AZ ) Police Officer 20+ yrs )

[HeijoshinCool]

But -- he is DA MA-YAH. Respect the offuz if not da man! I think the cop's behavior in turning their backs is despicable.

.

There's a time and a place for protest. At someone's funeral, is not the place.

[Credo]

If you don't want protests, then it's best not to have a politician speaking at a funeral unless he was a close personal friend.

[Gandtee]

Of course, all they're doing is proving the narrative - that they've been arresting people they don't have to.

It is also probably people that they rather not arrest in the first place, but are compelled to by the law and by the people at the top, who tell them what to do. It is not the officers fault that they have to enforce silly, minor laws,

Like in the military, it is the people at the top who dictate the policy and the people at the bottom who become cannon fodder. The cannon fodder are the easiest target of any criticism. It is the policy makers who make the problems.

[KKr]

Maybe that left wing hack deBlassio will get a clue that his support for cop killers is wrong?

In my very humble almost pacifist opinion, uniformed or not, support of any killers is wrong.

Having said that, I have known and have worked with people who killed, and I do understand that in some cases there is no other way out in the circumstances. Eat or be eaten.

Edited January 5, 2015 by KKr

[Lex Talionis]

These cops that turned their backs (it wasn't all of them by a longshot) are acting like children and are in embarrassment to the NYPD. I grew up in New York and have several uncles and cousins who are cops. This thin blue line shit has just got to stop. They are not above the law and when they <deleted> up they have to pay for it just like everybody else.

In the Eric Garner case was there a clear and present danger? Obviously not and a clear cut case of excessive over reaction. DiBlasio is just calling it like it is. If I was him I'd have Bratton get his ass down there and start busting up some careers. He needs to show them who's the boss.

Just pathetic to see the NYPD's reputation get trashed by these MFers.

[Jingthing]

Manhattan is an island. Staten Island is an island. NYC cops are not an island. They work for the city. Their big boss above their police boss is THE MAYOR.

And because some cops of the city exercise their rights this way — Bratton really couldn’t order them not to, they have the same rights as those who demonstrate against them — they begin to cede whatever high ground they had in their dispute with this mayor. And look no better than the demonstrators they feel have been given more support by the mayor than they have.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/mayor-de-blasio-admit-mistakes-fix-divide-nypd-article-1.2065818

[metisdead]

An off topic deflection post has been removed as well as the replies. This topic is not about the Eric Garner choke hold case, that topic is running here:

Eric Garner: No charges in NY chokehold case

[Loptr]

I'll put it this way, NYC got the Mayor they elected... They knew what his platform was going into the voting booth and they elected him... If he wants to castrate the police force, then New Yorker's supported this policy... I really don't want to hear them whine when cops stop doing their job and the criminals take over the city... Som nam na fits the bill perfectly...

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-30659528

[Publicus]

Maybe that left wing hack deBlassio will get a clue that his support for cop killers is wrong?

To say the mayor of New York city supports cop killers is an extreme and a completely irresponsible and irrational statement.

There is absolutely nothing in anything the mayor has said or done at any time in any place under any circumstance that justifies such an extreme and reprehensible statement.

[hhgz]

The funerals were meant to honor and show respects for the fallen policemen. The actions of the police purposely dishonored and disrespected the dead officers. They are upset that the mayor hasn't given in to their outlandish salary demands during recent contract negotiations, and found that the death of the two officers as a windfall. The officers attending the funerals should be ashamed.

[anon022]

JT

But -- he is DA MA-YAH. Respect the offuz if not da man! I think the cop's behavior in turning their backs is despicable.

There JT goes again.

Do you know any police officers? Any police officers among your circle of friends?

A retired black cop from Baltimore, a friend that I met here in Thailand, is a good example.

His main concern is making sure he lives safely here, understandable considering the moments of sheer terror you would encounter in that career.

The mayor deserved that show of disrespect. Police officers are citizens too, have the right to peaceably assemble and express their views.

These officers have no shame. It's a brazen act of disrespect toward their colleague to do this at his funeral. Period. There's no excuse for this unacceptable behavior and they all should be suspended for a few weeks without pay. Edited January 5, 2015 by Impossible

[CMNightRider]

Maybe that left wing hack deBlassio will get a clue that his support for cop killers is wrong?

To say the mayor of New York city supports cop killers is an extreme and a completely irresponsible and irrational statement.

There is absolutely nothing in anything the mayor has said or done at any time in any place under any circumstance that justifies such an extreme and reprehensible statement.

Mayor de Blasio, made irresponsible remarks towards the police implying they are racists, which just added fuel to the demonstrations against the police. After the two police officers were killed, he tried to act as if he didn't say anything wrong. Mayor de Blasio is a jerk, and the police were right for turning their backs on him. After all, Obama, Holder, and de Blasio, already turned their backs on the law enforcement community with their nonsensical political rhetoric.

The nationwide demonstrations of mostly blacks with the support of liberals against law enforcement, set the stage for the killing of these two police officers. The people who have encouraged and even participated in these anti-police demonstrations are nothing short of despicable vermin.

Edited January 5, 2015 by CMNightRider

[Publicus]

I haven't seen any "anti-police demonstrations" and I've been following these matters fairly closely.

There have been some riots and riots do not qualify in any way as protest or a demonstration which are civil matters. Neither does a lone actor or two at a protest define that protest.

I've seen demonstrations and protests for civil rights, fairness, justice, equality, better trained police and more along these lines, to include a recent so-called March on Washington, but I haven't seen "anti-police demonstrations" nor have I seen any "despicable vermin" here or there in any respect.

I reiterate that minority neighborhoods and communities in the USA are overpoliced and they have been overpoliced for a very long time. Just a short time ago a simple jaywalking in a minority community resulted in the unarmed guy getting shot to death in a cop's hail of gunfire. One could go on......

RIP to the two honorable and decent police officers Mayor DeBlasio has honorably eulogized.

[ttthailand]

Lets not forget ..... Congressman Peter King joined a growing number of police supporters blaming the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, for not denouncing "thousands of demonstrators chanting they wanted dead cops, they wanted dead cops now."

So we have thousands of people in the streets chanting about wanting dead cops and the Mayor said nothing.... Why ???

The cops were found innocent by the courts so the mayor should support the government and the rule of law. Why does he support people chanting to kill cops ?

youtu.be/dj4ARsxrZh8

Edited January 5, 2015 by ttthailand

[beechguy]

The funerals were meant to honor and show respects for the fallen policemen. The actions of the police purposely dishonored and disrespected the dead officers. They are upset that the mayor hasn't given in to their outlandish salary demands during recent contract negotiations, and found that the death of the two officers as a windfall. The officers attending the funerals should be ashamed.

I would say just the opposite, the actions of the police did honor, and respect their fallen brothers.

[Living in a cartoon]

JT

But -- he is DA MA-YAH. Respect the offuz if not da man! I think the cop's behavior in turning their backs is despicable.

There JT goes again.

Do you know any police officers? Any police officers among your circle of friends?

A retired black cop from Baltimore, a friend that I met here in Thailand, is a good example.

His main concern is making sure he lives safely here, understandable considering the moments of sheer terror you would encounter in that career.

The mayor deserved that show of disrespect. Police officers are citizens too, have the right to peaceably assemble and express their views.

These officers have no shame. It's a brazen act of disrespect toward their colleague to do this at his funeral. Period. There's no excuse for this unacceptable behavior and they all should be suspended for a few weeks without pay.

That's a great idea. You need to call the Mayor with your cunning plan, he'll be asking himself "Why didn't I think of that?"

[Boon Mee]

But -- he is DA MA-YAH. Respect the offuz if not da man! I think the cop's behavior in turning their backs is despicable.

The man is an imbecile and he has proven that he does not deserve the office. Good for those officers for making their disdain for this man very obvious.

deBalssio is also a Commie and sending NYC back to the nasty '70's.

Won't these progressive/commie stooges ever learn?

[CMNightRider]

I haven't seen any "anti-police demonstrations" and I've been following these matters fairly closely.

There have been some riots and riots do not qualify in any way as protest or a demonstration which are civil matters. Neither does a lone actor or two at a protest define that protest.

I've seen demonstrations and protests for civil rights, fairness, justice, equality, better trained police and more along these lines, to include a recent so-called March on Washington, but I haven't seen "anti-police demonstrations" nor have I seen any "despicable vermin" here or there in any respect.

I reiterate that minority neighborhoods and communities in the USA are overpoliced and they have been overpoliced for a very long time. Just a short time ago a simple jaywalking in a minority community resulted in the unarmed guy getting shot to death in a cop's hail of gunfire. One could go on......

RIP to the two honorable and decent police officers Mayor DeBlasio has honorably eulogized.

Let me see if I understand what you are implying. In your opinion, police in the U.S. are "over policing minority neighborhoods and communities," and "a simple jaywalking in a minority community resulted in an unarmed guy getting shot to death." Over policing??? An unarmed guy getting shot by police for jaywalking??? Really???

I can't help wonder, why liberals think with all the problems and events a police officer is faced with daily, when do they have the time to stalk black men and boys, and why would they do that? That's what you mean by your opinion of "over policing minority neighborhoods", right??

No one was shot and killed by police for jaywalking but you already know that.

Liberals tend to live in their own mind, and often times have a feel of superiority in believing they are somehow exposing imaginary and made up police atrocities. Your destain for law enforcement is so evident in the multitude of posts you have made about police in America.

Mayor de Blasio, Obama, and Holder's, racist rhetoric, along with liberal backed, black anti-police demonstrations, set the stage for the murder of these two New York City police officers. People who participate in this sort of behavior against the very people who stand between criminals and law abiding citizens are vile and despicable.

[NeverSure]

-snip- There's no excuse for this unacceptable behavior and they all should be suspended for a few weeks without pay.

Someone else who has no clue about Americans' rights to free speech, freedom of association, and freedom of expression. Constitutionally guaranteed.

And, what country would you be from where you don't have those freedoms? If you say "America," I'll wonder if you went to school.