On Wednesday, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), a union that represents police officers within the New York Police Department, approved of resolutions against New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O’Neil.
The resolutions, unanimously backed by nearly 400 delegates, ask that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo fire both city officials based on a vote of ‘no confidence’ should either of them not immediately resign.
According to New York law, the governor does have the right to remove any city official he sees fit. And so, the city, or at least a good portion of its police officers, are asking that he do so.
Many believe this has come about due, in part, to Commissioner O’Neill’s recent decision to fire a police officer. Officer Daniel Pantaleo was accused of killing Eric Garner in 2014, in a very high-profile case. When no charges were filed against Pantaleo, tensions quieted for a bit, only to rise very quickly after an administrative judge recommended that he be fired in early August.
O’Neill took the recommendation and fired Pantaleo on August 19. This was a sure sign to the PBA that the commissioner was only interested in his own career goals and playing politics. PBA President Patrick J. Lynch blasted the commissioner’s decision in a statement that he posted on Twitter.
He said, “Police Commissioner O’Neill has made his choice: he has chosen politics and his own self-interest over the police officers he claims to lead. He has chosen to cringe in fear of the anti-police extremists, rather than standing up for New Yorkers who want a functioning police department, with cops who are empowered to protect them and their families.”
And he added, “With this decision, Commissioner O’Neill has opened the door for politicians to dictate the outcome of every single NYPD disciplinary proceeding, without any regard for the facts of the case or police officers’ due process rights.”
But what about de Blasio? He wasn’t explicitly mentioned here, although his role would naturally be held responsible for the action as well.
In recent months the city has seen a surge in anti-police attacks, many ending in violence and injuries. The New York Post has even made mention a time or two about the rise in police injuries and the lack of respect given to them.
One would think that when these kinds of actions begin to take place against “New York’s finest,” its leaders would take a stand, making it known that such activities will not be tolerated or go unpunished. But that hasn’t happened.
On Wednesday, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), a union that represents police officers within the New York Police Department, approved of resolutions against New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O’Neil.
The resolutions, unanimously backed by nearly 400 delegates, ask that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo fire both city officials based on a vote of ‘no confidence’ should either of them not immediately resign.
According to New York law, the governor does have the right to remove any city official he sees fit. And so, the city, or at least a good portion of its police officers, are asking that he do so.
Many believe this has come about due, in part, to Commissioner O’Neill’s recent decision to fire a police officer. Officer Daniel Pantaleo was accused of killing Eric Garner in 2014, in a very high-profile case. When no charges were filed against Pantaleo, tensions quieted for a bit, only to rise very quickly after an administrative judge recommended that he be fired in early August.
O’Neill took the recommendation and fired Pantaleo on August 19. This was a sure sign to the PBA that the commissioner was only interested in his own career goals and playing politics. PBA President Patrick J. Lynch blasted the commissioner’s decision in a statement that he posted on Twitter.
He said, “Police Commissioner O’Neill has made his choice: he has chosen politics and his own self-interest over the police officers he claims to lead. He has chosen to cringe in fear of the anti-police extremists, rather than standing up for New Yorkers who want a functioning police department, with cops who are empowered to protect them and their families.”
And he added, “With this decision, Commissioner O’Neill has opened the door for politicians to dictate the outcome of every single NYPD disciplinary proceeding, without any regard for the facts of the case or police officers’ due process rights.”
But what about de Blasio? He wasn’t explicitly mentioned here, although his role would naturally be held responsible for the action as well.
In recent months the city has seen a surge in anti-police attacks, many ending in violence and injuries. The New York Post has even made mention a time or two about the rise in police injuries and the lack of respect given to them.
One would think that when these kinds of actions begin to take place against “New York’s finest,” its leaders would take a stand, making it known that such activities will not be tolerated or go unpunished. But that hasn’t happened.
De Blasio, in association with the commissioner, seems content to parade himself around the nation boasting of his socialist endeavors and his less than 1% in the polls instead of making a difference for the officers and the people of New York City.
And the PBA has had enough. They tweeted on Sunday, “Our anti-police lawmakers and failed NYPD leaders have emboldened criminals to assault cops and resist arrest, so that even the most basic jobs are turning into physical confrontations.”
And nobody wants that. It makes for an even more dangerous occupation in a line of work that has far too many dangers as it is.
But when city officials such as de Blasio and Commissioner O’Neill don’t support their own, it lets criminals and even would-be criminals, know that they can get away with just about anything. Sure, they might get arrested, but with anti-cop administrators and judges, they are likely to walk away with little more than a fine, if that.
Does de Blasio really care that little for his city? Would he let crime continue to rise just so that he can line his pockets and possibly get a little bit farther in the race for the White House? It sure seems so.
However, if he can’t take care of one city, granted it is a large one, how can we expect him to take care of our entire nation? The simple answer is we can’t.
New York is headed straight for hell if its leadership doesn’t change soon/ Thankfully, the people in the city are realizing that and demanding that wrongs be righted and the current leftist brand of leadership that clearly isn’t working be ousted immediately.
We can only imagine what a failed stint at being mayor will do for de Blasio’s presidential campaign… Let’s just say it probably won’t be good.
And the PBA has had enough. They tweeted on Sunday, “Our anti-police lawmakers and failed NYPD leaders have emboldened criminals to assault cops and resist arrest so that even the most basic jobs are turning into physical confrontations.”
And nobody wants that. It makes for an even more dangerous occupation in a line of work that has far too many dangers as it is.
But when city officials such as de Blasio and Commissioner O’Neill don’t support their own, it lets criminals and even would-be criminals, know that they can get away with just about anything. Sure, they might get arrested, but with anti-cop administrators and judges, they are likely to walk away with little more than a fine, if that.
Does de Blasio really care that little for his city? Would he let crime continue to rise just so that he can line his pockets and possibly get a little bit farther in the race for the White House? It sure seems so.
However, if he can’t take care of one city, granted it is a large one, how can we expect him to take care of our entire nation? The simple answer is we can’t.
New York is headed straight for hell if its leadership doesn’t change soon. Thankfully, the people in the city are realizing that and demanding that wrongs be righted and the current leftist brand of leadership that clearly isn’t working be ousted immediately.
We can only imagine what a failed stint at being mayor will do for de Blasio’s presidential campaign… Let’s just say it probably won’t be good.
