"I think we need to focus on the vast majority who did what was expected of them, than the few who embarrassed themselves and effectively took so much attention, so much attention. ... The selfishness of that action, the selfishness of it!"
Sharp words from NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton about the members of the NYPD who silently protested against New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio at funerals for two slain police officers.
Many officers turned their backs during De Blasio's speeches at the funeral for Officer Wenjian Liu Sunday and the funeral for Officer Rafael Ramos the week before. It was a silent protest against a perceived lack of support from the mayor.
Bratton has condemned this kind of protest before. He sent a memo to the NYPD before Liu's funeral saying the protests "stole the valor, honor, and attention that rightfully belonged to the memory of detective Rafael Ramos," and asking officers not to demonstrate a second time.
The commissioner and the mayor touted several positive year-end stats about the NYPD at the press conference, chiefly a 4.6-percent reduction in crime.
This video includes an image from Getty Images.
