File Photo: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. (Agence France-Presse)
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio received some boos and heckles Monday at a police graduation ceremony, the latest chapter in his tension-filled relationship with the largest police force in the US.
The rift between de Blasio and much of the rank and file has grown considerably in recent weeks, and the leaders of the police union have blamed the mayor for fostering an anti-New York Police Department (NYPD) atmosphere they believe contributed to the ambush slayings of two officers earlier this month.
The tensions stem from a grand jury's decision not to indict a white NYPD police officer in the chokehold death of a black man, Eric Garner, who was unarmed when police were trying to arrest him for allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes. That decision came on the heels of a similar grand jury decision in the case of Michael Brown, the unarmed black 18-year-old who was fatally shot by a white officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Both cases triggered nationwide protests and discussions about the relationship between law enforcement and black men in America.
De Blasio has spoken about cautioning his own son, who is half-black, about contact with police, and he permitted anti-NYPD protesters to march freely. When the two officers were gunned down December 20 by a man who cited Garner as one of his motivations for violence, the police unions said de Blasio had "blood on his hands" for fostering an atmosphere of anger toward police.
Twice in a week - including at the funeral for one of the slain officers - some officers turned their backs to de Blasio, adding an air of acrimony to the normally celebratory graduation ceremonies, which were held Monday at Madison Square Garden.
The 884 new police officers sat stoically in their seats when de Blasio was introduced to speak. But audible boos could be heard from some in the crowd in the seats reserved for the cadets' family and friends.
About a dozen or so people in the stands stood with their backs turned to de Blasio, emulating the searing pose of disrespect that hundreds of officers struck at Officer Rafael Ramos' funeral on Saturday.
De Blasio, a Democrat elected last year on the promises of keeping crime low while reforming the New York Police Department, effusively praised the new officers.
"It takes a special kind of person to put their lives on the line for others - to stare down the danger," he said. He then continued, "You will confront all the problems that plague our society - problems that you didn't create."
But as he drew a breath to continue, a shout could be heard from the crowd: "You did!"
That heckle was met with laughter and some applause from the crowd and briefly flustered de Blasio, who had been speaking at a quicker-than-normal pace, seemingly to eliminate any pauses that could have been filled with boos.
But he continued praising the officers and received polite applause when he finished speaking.
De Blasio departed the arena without taking questions.