The Next Generation Of NYPD Looks To Be About As Rotten As The Current One

Over the past few days we talked about the corrupting nature of the culture of policing-- from the perspective of victims and from the perspective of good apple police officers who were sickened by the entire filthy enterprise. By now, everyone has read about the spoiled brat attitude the police took in turning their backs on Mayor De Blasio last Saturday at the funeral of slain policeman Rafael Ramos. Monday, De Blasio spoke at Madison Square Garden at the graduation ceremonies for 884 new police officers from the city's Police Academy. The assholes booed and heckled him, while he was coddling them and kissing their asses, describing their career choice as "noble calling," and telling them they will "stare down the danger" and "keep the peace." Some jerks stood with their backs turned to the mayor for the entire time he spoke. According to the NYTimes report this all stems from the police unions freaking out about the mayor's support for Eric Gardner protestors after he was murdered by police.

Mr. de Blasio encouraged demonstrators who protested the grand jury decision, saying, “Anyone who believes in the values of this country should feel called to action right now.” And he said that he has often spoken to his biracial son about “dangers he may face” in interactions with the police.

In addition to the back-turning incidents, the main police union distributed a flier to officers three weeks ago urging them to disinvite the mayor from their funerals should they die in the line of duty.

With Mr. de Blasio at odds with many officers, the police commissioner, William J. Bratton, has been thrust into the role of peacemaker.

On Sunday, he stood by Mr. de Blasio’s comments on race relations-- saying it is the “reality” that officers have to deal with. But Mr. Bratton said he understood the officers’ frustrations even if he found it “inappropriate” to express them at the funeral of an officer slain on the job.

Mr. Bratton also addressed the graduates. “We are at a very difficult time in this country, in this city, and in this department,” he conceded.

But he added, “You have the opportunity with that badge on your chest to do extraordinary things.”

Mr. de Blasio is arranging meetings with five unions representing officers of nearly all ranks. He has faced the sharpest criticism from the head of the union for patrol officers, Patrick J. Lynch, who along with other officers turned his back on the mayor on Dec. 20 at Woodhull Hospital after Officer Ramos and his patrol partner, Wenjian Liu, were shot dead in their marked car.

That night, Mr. Lynch said that responsibility for the officers’ deaths-- “the blood on the hands”-- started at the office of the mayor.

Since then, Mr. de Blasio has mostly avoided engaging directly with the unions. He took questions from reporters last week and spoke at the funeral of Officer Ramos, but in recent days has otherwise not directly addressed the controversy roiling his administration.

On Monday, the closest he came was to remind the cadets of the importance of winning the trust of civilians.

“We will work every day to deepen your relationship with the communities you serve,” he said, “for the safety of all, for the betterment of all.”