THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
(apologies to Keith Olbermann)
Officers of the New York Police Department
Hundreds of police officers turned their backs on a screen showing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as he spoke at the funeral of one of two officers killed last week in what has been called an “assassination.”…. The funeral at the Christ Tabernacle Church, in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens, was broadcast to thousands of police who gathered outside. The killing of Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu came amid heightened tensions between the police and the mayor over what some police saw as a lack of support for the force. The atmosphere was mostly respectful, but there were scattered signs of protest even before the police officers action when the mayor spoke.
There are few things more truly reprehensible than using tragedy to advance a narrow political agenda. While I understand that (rightly or wrongly), NYPD officers have a problem with Mayor Bill de Blasio, the funeral of one of their own is neither the time nor the place to air that sort of dirty laundry. If NYPD’s officer had set out to deliberately insult and devalue the sacrifice of Officer Ramos, they couldn’t have done a better job.
Instead of discussing their grievances like adults, NYPD officers resorted to the sort of tactic that might be employed by a recalcitrant 10-year-old- immature, inappropriate, and disrespectful of both the Mayor and the citizens of New York City. Whatever their beef may be, the NYPD officers sullied the memory of Officer Ramos by acting like a cabal of spoiled children. With thousand of police officers and dignitaries from around the country present for the funeral, the NYPD officers present displayed an astonishing lack of maturity, revealing themselves to be even more small-minded and self-absorbed than observers might have suspected.
Police union officials have blamed de Blasio for fostering anti-police sentiment for his support of protesters angry that no charges will be filed in the police deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner on Staten Island. At a hospital after the officers’ slayings, the police union’s president, Patrick Lynch, and others turned their backs on de Blasio in a sign of disrespect. Lynch said the mayor had “blood on his hands.”
The department’s dispute with the mayor has escalated recently, as evidenced by the plane which Friday circled over the city pulling a banner stating, “De Blasio Our Backs Have Turned To You.” There are undoubtedly legitimate issues- on both sides- in need of being addressed. The funeral of a fellow police officer is not an appropriate venue for the venting of that discontent.
Here’s something for NYPD to consider- how many employees would be allowed to public excoriate their employer and still hope to keep their jobs. Despite what y’all might think, you’re not so special that you couldn’t- and in some cases, perhaps should- be replaced.
While the pain and anguish of officers dealing with the execution of two of their own is understandable, acting out like spoiled children is as appropriate as it is disrespectful- of the Mayor, the city, and, most importantly, the family of Officer Ramos, whose funeral was turned into a political circus. Turning their backs to the mayor is beyond juvenile, the sort of thing one might expect from a child upset at being told to go to their room.
#ThatAwkwardMoment when the #NYPD says fuck you to a mayor elected by 72% of the citizens they promised to serve pic.twitter.com/8TF4IxUMqv
— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) December 27, 2014
The officers’ collective anger over de Blasio voicing support for those protesting police abuses is ridiculous. Anger at people merely exercising their 1st Amendment rights is misdirected and wrong. Instead of blaming protesters (and the Mayor for not immediately and unquestioning backing them 100%), perhaps the police might better serve the public by taking a look at how they conduct themselves. Admitting that they have a problem- and that they’re willing to work on getting their in order- would go a long way towards reducing tensions.
Instead, NYPD has chosen to go on the offensive, blaming everyone but themselves and then turning on the Mayor when he doesn’t fall into line. Methinks someone needs to grow up.
Call me naive, but NYPD sounds like a group of spoiled children incensed they didn’t get their way…and it sounds like NYPD’s officers need to straighten up and put their big boy pants on.
