Funeral For Assassinated NYPD Officer Rafael Ramos Yesterday, Remarks By Mayor de Blasio, Vice President Biden and Commissioner Bratton
Image Of Officer Ramos and Liu From NYPD News
The NY Times reports on the funeral of NYPD officer Rafael Ramos yesterday:
... one week removed from the slayings, the city wept for an officer, Rafael Ramos, N.Y.P.D. Shield No. 6335, who was murdered Dec. 20 along with another officer for their choice of occupation....
CNN adds:
... Ramos and his partner, Officer Wenjian Liu, were gunned down December 20 as they sat in their patrol car in Brooklyn. The gunman, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, shot himself at a subway shortly afterward. He earlier posted angry messages on social media against police and government, citing two black men killed by officers....Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered these remarks at the funeral of Officer Ramos.
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton eulogized Officer Ramos (full text here)
More ABC News Videos | ABC World News
and Vice President Biden said:
Commissioner Bratton said on Face The Nation this morning:
New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton said it was "very inappropriate" for officers to turn their backs on New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio at the funeral for slain NYPD Officer Rafael Ramos. It was the second time officers had done so since the slaying of two NYPD cops.
"That funeral was held to honor Officer Ramos, and to bring politics, to bring issues into that event I think was very inappropriate and I do not support it. He is the mayor of New York, he was there representing the citizens of New York to express their remorse and their regret at that death," Bratton said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
"At the same time it is reflective unfortunately of the feelings of some of our officers at this juncture about not just the mayor but I think about some of the many issues that are afflicting the city at this time and this particular police department," he added....
Former Mayor Rudy Guiliani also appeared today on Face The Nation saying:
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said current mayor Bill de Blasio owes New York City police an apology for creating "an impression with police that he was on the side of the protesters."
"Mayor de Blasio, please say you're sorry to them for having created a false impression of them," Giuliani said on "Face the Nation" Sunday. "You did create a false impression of them. Say you're sorry. Say you didn't realize. Say you didn't realize you have...a non-white police department, in terms of majority."
Still, Giuliani said that he does not blame de Blasio for the deaths and does not think it is appropriate for others to do so....
Details on Officer's Liu's funeral have not yet been announced.
7 comments :
Cheshiecat...again, why are you pointing these at me?????
I thought the discussion might shed some light on your question. The connection Frank was trying to make was between the stop and frisk stats and what the public feels is wrong with NYPD. There are publications that have charts/maps/graphs based on the stop and frisk data. The voters spoke on the matter in November 2013 in electing de Blasio who ran on the issue (discontinuing the policy). Then the system was dismantled earlier this year - de Blasio would have done it with or without the law suit. So now the number of stops is way down and crime is still down; however, the two deadly incidents (Eric Garner and Akai Gurley) occurred after the cessation of mass-basis stop and frisk.
Frank was trying to say that the many years of mass-basis stop and frisk led to the public's perception of the NYPD as pursuing an unfair, un-constitutional, policy - that possibly culminated in the recent tragic incidents. They may tie the Eric Garner-Akai Gurley killings to stop and frisk although the incidents had little/nothing to do with them. Stop and frisk was seen as a racist program. If there was racism involved with the two killings, then Garner-Gurley are added into the list of racist "woes" or "hurts." And so you have the whole "constellation" of racist actions - the years of stop and frisk and added to them, the recent killings of Garner and Gurley, which are also seen as the result of widespread/institutionalized racism.
Frank's comments expand on the problem - how the earlier issues (correctly) led to the public's perception of racism/unfairness which led to the election results of 2013 - rejection of BB-associated candidates/policies.
Obviously, the problem is entrenched, however. No matter how well-meaning and reform-minded the present admin is, Bratton and de Blasio cannot be at every civilian-police encounter, ensuring that policies are carried out correctly. Now they are trying to implement cameras - but there was footage of the Garner tragedy, so even that is no guarantee that the police/GJs will do the right thing.
More training is needed, and cameras, and the special prosecutors in controversial cases. The CCRB - does it really keep the NYPD in line? Not really. The only thing the populace can do is continue to press for reforms - continue to peacefully file law suits if need be. Lynch tried to "bait" the Mayor and the majority of the people of the City of NY, with his comments. Everyone recognizes the tragedy of the cops getting shot by an individual who was gunning to get shot, i.e. a very troubled/suicidal soul. Had he not shot himself, it was a matter of seconds before he would have been shot in trying to flee. None of this is what the vast majority of New Yorkers want: The vast majority of New Yorkers want safe streets, security,and a police force that doesn't unfairly target some sectors of the population. The vast majority of New Yorkers appreciate and want police protection - but they do not want unfair harassment for no reason. So it's a matter of restoring trust between the police and the people. The GJ verdicts were obviously intensely frustrating to many - even so, they should lead to further constructive efforts. Nothing "excuses" what happened to the two cops - yet nothing "excuses" what happened to Garner either. None of these victims "deserved" death. The cops died as a result of an individual's mental illness wish to "aggrandize" himself combined with the easy availability of hand-guns. The cops were innocent victims of another's sickness. But what about Garner? Wasn't he equally innocent? Or, didn't he at least deserve a hearing, rather than be treated as a violent criminal without him having done anything wrong? Could the State really prove those were un-taxed cigarettes he had sold?
So - if anything - I was trying to shed some light on what Frank was saying.
Cheshiecat, Are you OK? I have no idea what you are referring to. I have no recollection of ever questioning Frank about a comment he made re the connection between Stop and frisk stats and what the public feels about the NYPD. Perhaps you me mixed me up with someone else or????
Just scroll up - two days ago you asked Frank "Huh?" in response to Frank's comment of four days ago "Mr. Enock: This stop-n-frisk analysis is really the point that identifies what the public sees (and feels!) is wrong with NYPD. Working on visualization of data so it's easier understood by electeds. Merry Christmas!"
You really must see my latest.
Stop, stop, stop...read my latest!
oye vey.
Post a Comment