Bad Blood: When NYC Police Unions and Mayors Clash

Police Academy graduates boo, heckle de Blasio at ceremony.

NYPD vs. Mayor's Office - While attending a Dec. 29 graduation ceremony for the latest class of Police Academy graduates, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was booed and heckled by attendees. Some members of the NYPD and their supporters have been at odds with the Mayor’s office since the fatal shooting of two officers on Dec. 20. Prepared for the negative reception, De Blasio’s press office contacted reporters “to remind folks that today was not the first time a NYC Mayor has been booed at a police graduation,” the New York Post reported. Keep reading to learn more about past controversies between New work City’s Finest and former mayors. — Patrice Peck(Photo: Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)

1 / 13

NYPD vs. Mayor's Office - While attending a Dec. 29 graduation ceremony for the latest class of Police Academy graduates, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was booed and heckled by attendees. Some members of the NYPD and their supporters have been at odds with the Mayor’s office since the fatal shooting of two officers on Dec. 20. Prepared for the negative reception, De Blasio’s press office contacted reporters “to remind folks that today was not the first time a NYC Mayor has been booed at a police graduation,” the New York Post reported. Keep reading to learn more about past controversies between New work City’s Finest and former mayors. — Patrice Peck(Photo: Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)

Police Turn Their Backs - Police officers turned their backs on Mayor de Blasio as he delivered his eulogy for Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, two late officers who were killed by a Georgia gunman on Dec. 20. Although New York  City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton emphasized with their reaction, saying it is “reflective” of the feelings of some of the officers, he called the protest “very inappropriate." (Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

2 / 13

Police Turn Their Backs - Police officers turned their backs on Mayor de Blasio as he delivered his eulogy for Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, two late officers who were killed by a Georgia gunman on Dec. 20. Although New York  City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton emphasized with their reaction, saying it is “reflective” of the feelings of some of the officers, he called the protest “very inappropriate." (Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Blood on Hands - Hours after the gunman fatally ambushed New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, police union leader Pat Lynch said on Dec. 20 that Mayor Bill de Blasio was to blame for the killings. "That blood on the hands starts at City Hall in the Office of the Mayor,” Lynch told reporters. But, according to NYPBD Commissioner Bill Bratton, this strained dynamic between officers and the mayor is “nothing new.”(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

3 / 13

Blood on Hands - Hours after the gunman fatally ambushed New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, police union leader Pat Lynch said on Dec. 20 that Mayor Bill de Blasio was to blame for the killings. "That blood on the hands starts at City Hall in the Office of the Mayor,” Lynch told reporters. But, according to NYPBD Commissioner Bill Bratton, this strained dynamic between officers and the mayor is “nothing new.”(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Mayor Bill de Blasio Blamed - Soon after the police officer who placed Eric Garner in a fatal chokehold was not indicted, Mayor de Blasio echoed protesters when he said “Black lives and brown lives matter as much as white lives." He also held a closed door meeting with activists. Those and other actions prompted many NYPD members and law enforcement proponents to blame Mayor de Blasio and protesters for the anti-police rhetoric leading to the deaths of officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. The shooter was a Black man from Georgia who had previously tweeted his plans to kill cops and hashtagged #RipMikeBrown #RipErivGardner [sic].(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

4 / 13

Mayor Bill de Blasio Blamed - Soon after the police officer who placed Eric Garner in a fatal chokehold was not indicted, Mayor de Blasio echoed protesters when he said “Black lives and brown lives matter as much as white lives." He also held a closed door meeting with activists. Those and other actions prompted many NYPD members and law enforcement proponents to blame Mayor de Blasio and protesters for the anti-police rhetoric leading to the deaths of officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. The shooter was a Black man from Georgia who had previously tweeted his plans to kill cops and hashtagged #RipMikeBrown #RipErivGardner [sic].(Photo: AP Photo/John Minchillo)

An Unclaimed Memo - On that same Saturday evening, a memo purported to be released by the city's largest police union, the Patrolman's Benevolent Association (PBA), began making rounds on social media and several news outlets. According to Gawker, the memo urged its 23,000 active members to not write any summonses or make any arrests unless it was "absolutely necessary." Lynch, whose comments about blood on city hall hands reflects several comments in the memo, is the head of PBA.(Photo: Ryan Gorman via Twitter)

5 / 13

An Unclaimed Memo - On that same Saturday evening, a memo purported to be released by the city's largest police union, the Patrolman's Benevolent Association (PBA), began making rounds on social media and several news outlets. According to Gawker, the memo urged its 23,000 active members to not write any summonses or make any arrests unless it was "absolutely necessary." Lynch, whose comments about blood on city hall hands reflects several comments in the memo, is the head of PBA.(Photo: Ryan Gorman via Twitter)

ADVERTISEMENT
Those Responsible Will Be Held Accountable - “We tried to warn it must not go on, it cannot be tolerated," Lynch reportedly said at a news conference, referring to anti-police brutality protests. He added, "When these funerals are over, those responsible will be called on the carpet and held accountable.” While PBA has denied any attributions to the memo, Lynch did confirm that several uniformed officers and the friends and family of the two slain officers turned their backs on the Mayor and his staff when they walked down a hospital hallway. As Gawker reporter Christopher Robbins writes, "for decades, police unions have done seemingly outrageous things to gain leverage for their members." (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

6 / 13

Those Responsible Will Be Held Accountable - “We tried to warn it must not go on, it cannot be tolerated," Lynch reportedly said at a news conference, referring to anti-police brutality protests. He added, "When these funerals are over, those responsible will be called on the carpet and held accountable.” While PBA has denied any attributions to the memo, Lynch did confirm that several uniformed officers and the friends and family of the two slain officers turned their backs on the Mayor and his staff when they walked down a hospital hallway. As Gawker reporter Christopher Robbins writes, "for decades, police unions have done seemingly outrageous things to gain leverage for their members." (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

A Volatile Divide - During a recent interview on the Today Show, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton pointed to labor negotiations as one of the "moving currents" contributing to the volatile divide between rank and file officers and the Mayor's Office, Gawker reported. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

7 / 13

A Volatile Divide - During a recent interview on the Today Show, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton pointed to labor negotiations as one of the "moving currents" contributing to the volatile divide between rank and file officers and the Mayor's Office, Gawker reported. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

The PBA Versus the NYPD Commissioner  - In 1994, the PBA successfully lobbied for a bill that would prevent the city's police commissioner of the ability to fire cops for misconduct on the job. According to Gawker, the bill was ultimately vetoed by the governor. "The P.B.A. is a monster that makes real reform impossible," then-United States Representative Major Owens told New York Times in a report on the issue. "It spends money in all sorts of ways that it is not accountable for. Its leadership doesn't even make an effort to be representative of the entire force. It has people in Albany." The PBA, on the other hand, have long since considered their role to be the protector of honest officers. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

8 / 13

The PBA Versus the NYPD Commissioner  - In 1994, the PBA successfully lobbied for a bill that would prevent the city's police commissioner of the ability to fire cops for misconduct on the job. According to Gawker, the bill was ultimately vetoed by the governor. "The P.B.A. is a monster that makes real reform impossible," then-United States Representative Major Owens told New York Times in a report on the issue. "It spends money in all sorts of ways that it is not accountable for. Its leadership doesn't even make an effort to be representative of the entire force. It has people in Albany." The PBA, on the other hand, have long since considered their role to be the protector of honest officers. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

Angry Police Demonstrate Against Dinkins - Former Mayor David Dinkins also faced backlash from PBA and NYPD members in 1992. According to the New York Times, 10,000 cops stormed City Hall to protest the former Mayor's creation of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, effectively blocking traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge for 20 minutes. The rally was organized by the PBA.(Photo: J.DAVID AKE/AFP/Getty Images)

9 / 13

Angry Police Demonstrate Against Dinkins - Former Mayor David Dinkins also faced backlash from PBA and NYPD members in 1992. According to the New York Times, 10,000 cops stormed City Hall to protest the former Mayor's creation of the Civilian Complaint Review Board, effectively blocking traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge for 20 minutes. The rally was organized by the PBA.(Photo: J.DAVID AKE/AFP/Getty Images)

Instigating a Work Slowdown - To challenge anti-corruption measures announced by the NYPD Commissioner in 1986, patrol officers staged a work slowdown by refusing to issue summonses or make minor arrests. The crackdown was sparked after 11 NYPD officers were arrested for running a highly publicized, multi-level drug operation. Phil Caruso, then-president of the PBA, publicly denounced the comissioner's plans and called for his resignation.(Photo: New York Magazine, December 8, 1986)

10 / 13

Instigating a Work Slowdown - To challenge anti-corruption measures announced by the NYPD Commissioner in 1986, patrol officers staged a work slowdown by refusing to issue summonses or make minor arrests. The crackdown was sparked after 11 NYPD officers were arrested for running a highly publicized, multi-level drug operation. Phil Caruso, then-president of the PBA, publicly denounced the comissioner's plans and called for his resignation.(Photo: New York Magazine, December 8, 1986)

ADVERTISEMENT
/content/dam/betcom/images/2013/11/National-11-01-11-15/110113-national-stop-frisk.jpg

11 / 13

Eleanor Bumpers - In 1984, NYPD Officer Stephen Sullivan was indicted for the fatal shooting of 66-year-old Eleanor Bumpers. The PBA responded by suggesting "that officers in all the city's boroughs refrain from any action until directed to do so by a higher-ranking supervisor and that in the Bronx and Brooklyn, officers should also await instructions from a prosecutor," the New York Times reported. More than 200 NYPD cops also sought transfers as a way to protest the indictment. The manslaughter indictment against Officer Sullivan was later dropped. A judge ruled that the evidence was "legally insufficient."  (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

"Rudy Must Go" - Even Rudolph "Rudy" Giuliani, a former NYC mayor often championed by the NYPD, was attacked by the law enforcement department when he proposed gradual pay raises to officers. Protesters reportedly rallied throughout the city, deriding the mayor with chants like ''Rudy must go'' and ''Rudy's a liar, set him on fire.''  (Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

12 / 13

"Rudy Must Go" - Even Rudolph "Rudy" Giuliani, a former NYC mayor often championed by the NYPD, was attacked by the law enforcement department when he proposed gradual pay raises to officers. Protesters reportedly rallied throughout the city, deriding the mayor with chants like ''Rudy must go'' and ''Rudy's a liar, set him on fire.''  (Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

PBA Pickets Bloomberg Residence - In 2004, Lynch and other PBA members demanded a a pay raise by setting up picket lines outside of then-Mayor Bloomberg's Upper East Side home. "Our members are putting their lives on the line every day,'' Lynch told the New York Times.(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

13 / 13

PBA Pickets Bloomberg Residence - In 2004, Lynch and other PBA members demanded a a pay raise by setting up picket lines outside of then-Mayor Bloomberg's Upper East Side home. "Our members are putting their lives on the line every day,'' Lynch told the New York Times.(Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)