CNN Reporter Confronts NYPD Union Head About Cops Turning Backs to de Blasio

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke earlier today at the memorial service of slain NYPD Officer Rafael Ramos. And just like last week, officers angry with de Blasio made a big statement by turning their backs on him as he spoke, to make it clear they’re not happy with how de Blasio has treated them.

CNN reporter Miguel Marquez brought up the silent protest to Patrick Lynch, the head of police union the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, and asked him if he thought it was appropriate. Lynch––who spoke of showing respect to the slain officers––did not quite go so far to say de Blasio deserves respect too.

RELATED: NYPD Union Leader: Policing Rules, Black Congressional Staff Protesters, Are ‘Stupid’

What he did say was, “We have to understand the betrayal that they feel.” Lynch kept saying that today is a day for mourning, and tomorrow everyone can go back to debating. He did not outright say whether these officers were right or wrong to do what they did.

Lynch, of course, has been incredibly critical of de Blasio, to the point where he blamed the mayor’s rhetoric about the police for the deaths of Ramos and his partner Wenjian Liu.

Watch the video below, via CNN:

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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