New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is under fire again for disrespecting law enforcement and seeming to blame officers for violent protests over the summer.
The Democrat was accused of using police officers as a “scapegoat” for the riots and violent demonstrations that unfolded in New York City following the death of George Floyd in May. The head of the union representing New York City detectives called de Blasio out in a scathing statement following his public apology for police actions.
Reacting to a Department of Investigations Protest Report released on Friday, de Blasio issued an apology in a nearly seven-minute video message expressing his “remorse” and vowing that the NYPD will “do better.”
“It’s a season of reflection right now, that’s what the holidays are,” he said. “I read this report, and I agree with it. I agree with its analysis and I agree with its recommendations, because it makes very clear we’ve got to do something different, and we’ve got to do something better.”
This is a season of reflection.
I’ve read the Department of Investigation’s report on the NYPD’s handling of the protests in response to the murder of George Floyd. It’s clear that we have we to do something different in New York City.
We have to do something better. pic.twitter.com/nhY12KSNuE
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) December 18, 2020
“I look back with remorse. I wish I had done better,” he said of his handling of the protests in May and June. “I want everyone to understand that. And I’m sorry I didn’t do better. And I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons. And I want our police department to do better. And I’m going to insist upon that.”
Of course, many would concur that the liberal mayor has plenty to be sorry for in his mis-handling of the violence, but de Blasio was not specific about his own actions. During his regular press briefing on Friday, he was asked directly by one reporter “exactly what it is you’re apologizing for?”
“I don’t feel I did good enough, that’s why I apologized,” he replied.
Paul DiGiacomo, president of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, slammed the mayor as well as Department of Investigation Commissioner Margaret Garnett.
“The irony that the DOI Commissioner is appointed directly by the Mayor of New York City should not be lost on anyone,” DiGiacomo said in a blistering statement on Friday. “Our brave men and women in blue were sent to do an impossible job by elected officials who send mix messages about what they want and have no experience in these dangerous situations.”
DEA Statement on the Department of Investigations Protest Report pic.twitter.com/YNMzItUmhv
— Detectives’ Endowment Association (@NYCPDDEA) December 18, 2020
“As hundreds of cops were injured and businesses destroyed, there was only one thing we could count on — no support from City Hall and Albany,” he said, referring to New York’s state capital. “Perhaps our elected officials are the ones who need ‘new training.'”
The Department of Investigation report found that “heightened tensions” during the summer protests were exacerbated by excessive force used by police officers against protesters.
“NYPD use of force and crowd control tactics often failed to discriminate between lawful, peaceful protesters and unlawful actors, and contributed to the perception that officers were exercising force in some cases beyond what was necessary under the circumstances,” the 100-page report concluded.
De Blasio used the report’s findings and his vow to do things “differently” moving forward as a segue in his press briefing to announce a need to “redistribute wealth” in the city.
Bill de Blasio says mission is to ‘redistribute wealth’: ‘The mask is coming off, prepare for the fight ahead…’ https://t.co/2I2sRMtnNq pic.twitter.com/tCMwjJSjmu
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) December 19, 2020
The Democrat addressed “systemic racism” in education and elsewhere as he targeted income inequalities, and openly declared that the redistribution of wealth is the government’s “mission” in education.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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