Governor Andrew Cuomo was a guest on Albany’s WAMC radio and got heated about the recent incidents where civilians threw buckets of water at NYPD patrolling their streets. Question is, whose side is Cuomo on?
In the discussion, Cuomo says that the reactions of the officers showed them to be “impotent” and that their behavior was “one of the most disturbing and embarrassing actions I’ve seen.” Although he seems to blame Mayor de Blasio when he said, “I look to the training and the policies of the police department that would’ve instructed them to act that way.”
If leadership is to blame, why did Cuomo use such critical words to attack those who devote themselves to serve and protect. He continued, “you’re assaulted, you take the perpetrator into custody. That’s what you do.” He then put himself on a pedestal, boasting “If that ever happened to the state police, I would bet you my bottom dollar that you would not see state police officers assaulted and they turn around and get back in the car.”
This is a strange way to show support for our brass. Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said that while Cuomo “apparently wants the New York State Police to know that he has their backs,’ city cops ‘have nothing even remotely close to that kind of support from our city’s elected leaders.” As for Cuomo’s troops who would act differently, Lynch said “troopers may be patrolling city streets in increasing numbers, but they do not have a deal with a mayor who demonizes them for his own political gain, a City Council that imposes new burdens and second-guessing at every turn, or NYPD bosses who look to protect their own careers at the expense of the men and women they lead.”
NYPD spokeswoman, Sgt. Mary Frances O’Donnell responded to Cuomo’s remarks by saying, “The NYPD is the best-trained and most-skilled police department in the world.” Conveniently, while boasting himself up, Cuomo had zero solution for how to stop the anti-cop movement in the United States. Heads up Mr. Cuomo, you just made it worse. Go to bat for the blue, don’t criticize them for adhering to the rules leaders such as yourself imposed.
