Major rift emerges between NYPD, mayor in wake of officers being shot dead

Updated
Video: Officers Turn Away From NYC Mayor As He Enters Press Conference
Video: Officers Turn Away From NYC Mayor As He Enters Press Conference


By RYAN GORMAN

The assassination of two NYPD officers in broad daylight has revealed a major fissure between the department and the mayor's office.

NYPD officers have been directed to arrest people only if "absolutely necessary" as cops adjust to working in a "wartime police department," according to a police union memo obtained by AOL News.

"Absolutely NO law enforcement action in the form of arrests and or summonses is to be taken unless absolutely necessary and unless an individual must be placed under arrest," the note stresses.

The memo came Saturday evening following the shooting deaths of officers Wenjin Liu and Raphael Romero.

A veteran NYPD officer told AOL News: "Cops are not gonna give a s**t anymore.

"The mayor is a wolf in sheep's clothing and his poor choice of words, along with other officials and activists, helped perpetuate this senseless killing."

The PBA memo also that claimed New York Mayor Bill de Blasio's "hands are literally dripping with blood because of his words, actions and policies."


The officer, who has decades of experience with "New York's Finest," agreed.

"Something like this was going to happen" because de Blasio elected to let "the anti cop/justice system protesting keep going."

The mayor has drawn the NYPD's ire in recent months after taking what many cops feel is an anti-police stance following the August death of Eric Garner.

"He helped brew hatred against the NYPD," said the officer.

The shooting deaths of officer Wenjin Liu and Raphael Romero came as apparent retribution for the deaths of Michael Brown and Garner, according to social media posts by the suspected killer.

A PBA spokesperson has publicly denied the statement's authenticity, but the officer told AOL News that it was a mass-message sent to all officers.

The note came only one week after PBA president Pat Lynch ranted against the mayor during a gathering in Queens.

It also emerged not long after de Blasio was reportedly asked not to attend the funerals of officers killed in the line of duty.



Related links:
'#ShootThePolice': Crazed man's online ranting before executing two NYPD officers, committing suicide
NYPD fumes over lack of support from Mayor de Blasio in wake of Eric Garner grand jury decision
NYPD tweets 'you can't handle the truth' in apparent nod to civilian deaths

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