When New York Mayor Bill de Blasio made the purely political decision to back criminals over cops in the Big Apple, he may have gotten re-elected in 2017 on the votes of lowlifes. But his rhetoric toward the city’s law enforcement has incited escalating violence against the women and men who form the thin blue line. The mayor who mistakenly believed he could represent the Democratic Party and face President Donald Trump in the general election now finds himself under siege.
Mayor de Blasio has been accused of routinely using police officers as a political football. He throws them under the bus when groups complain about legitimate arrests and the necessary use of force. In July, a reputed gang member led a group of street thugs to humiliate uniformed officers by dousing them with buckets of water in broad daylight on a New York street.
“We love our Law Enforcement Officers all around this great Country. What took place in NYC with water being tossed on NYPD officers was a total disgrace. It is time for @NYCMayor @BilldeBlasio to STAND UP for those who protect our lives and serve us all so well,” Trump tweeted at the time. “What took place was completely unacceptable, and will not be tolerated.”
Although caught on viral video, Courtney Thompson wasn’t charged until Dec. 20. And when he appeared in court on counts of third-degree criminal mischief, obstruction of governmental administration, criminal tampering, and harassment, among others, the city’s prosecutors cut him a sweet deal despite the mayor’s phony promise that “anybody who interferes with the work of a police officer is going to be charged and is going to suffer the consequences.” Thompson was doled out a laughable 10 days of community service, and never served a day behind bars. To say the sentence has emboldened violent criminals would be something of an understatement
“I can’t believe that guy got off,” a police source reportedly said. “I mean 10 days community service? Basically, you’re telling everybody that if you want to dump water on a cop, you can, and there’s no consequences for it. This is the lawless society that we live in now.”
Fast-forward to February, and a lone gunman targeted police officers for assassination with a 9mm. Police are reporting that Robert Williams opened fire on officers in two separate instances, and the alleged shooter says he plans to continue to try kill police once released.
“I’m going to shoot one of you when I get out,” Williams reportedly said while in Lincoln Hospital on Sunday, Feb. 9.
The 45-year-old is said to have shot at police on a street corner before walking into the 41st Precinct station-house and opening fire. Authorities have painted Williams as a habitual offender who had been convicted of attempted murder in 2002. The rash of brazen violence against New York’s finest has police unions declaring open war on Mayor de Blasio.
“Mayor de Blasio, the members of the NYPD are declaring war on you! We do not respect you, DO NOT visit us in hospitals. You sold the NYPD to the vile creatures, the 1% who hate cops but vote for you. NYPD cops have been assassinated because of you. This isn’t over, Game on,” the Sergeant’s Benevolent Association recently tweeted. “Police are being targeted. The anti-cop tone infecting our city & state is causing bloodshed. Before any public official sends their thoughts & prayers, they should ask themselves how the language & behavior they’ve been tolerating has contributed to violence against police.”
Conservative leaders across the spectrum have denounced the mayor’s anti-cop rhetoric and policies that many see as the source.
“This problem of making the cops a political punching bag, this is almost exclusively a problem with the radical left. Do a basic Internet search, and you are going to see it, so it’s a twofold problem, and it’s very simple to figure out,” right-wing commentator Dan Bongino said. “When you live in a liberal city, run by a former communist mayor like Bill de Blasio, who makes it easy to be a criminal… you get more criminals.”
Since taking office, Mayor de Blasio has hamstrung police by removing effective stop and frisk policies of known gang members, launched investigations against officers when it was in his political best interest to get votes, and eliminated cash bail that would keep many repeat offenders off the streets until trial. With the mayor increasingly pushing policies that favor criminals over cops, it’s easy to see why violence against officers is on the rise in New York City.
