NYPD turns its back on Mayor De Blasio

[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.