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69% Of NYers Think Cops Were Wrong To Turn Their Backs On De Blasio
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 16, 2015
Modified Jan 16, 2015
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 16, 2015
Modified Jan 16, 2015
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The sight of police officers turning their backs to Mayor Bill de Blasio during funerals for fallen police officers didn't sit well with most New Yorkers. A new Quinnipiac University poll found that "New York City voters, black, white and Hispanic, disapprove 69 - 27 percent of police officers turning their backs" in the repeated displays of disrespect. Sadly, this means that the vast majority of New York voters aren't real New Yorkers, according to police union chief Patrick Lynch.
The poll also found that Lynch's fiery rhetoric—which accused de Blasio and City Hall of having "blood on [its] hands" after the deaths of Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos—was considered "too extreme" by 77% of those polled. Quinnipiac notes, "There is no party, gender, racial, borough or age group which finds the comments 'appropriate.' " Some more findings:
With a big racial division, voters say 47 - 37 percent that Mayor de Blasio's statements and actions during his 2013 campaign and during his first year in office show he does support police. The mayor supports police, black voters say 69 - 19 percent and Hispanic voters say 53 - 33 percent, while white voters say 49 - 36 percent he does not support police.
Police discipline has broken down, voters say 52 - 38 percent, but voters say 62 - 20 percent that Police Commissioner William Bratton can restore or maintain discipline.
Voters approve 56 - 31 percent of the job Commissioner Bratton is doing, up from 44 - 39 percent in a December 17 Quinnipiac University poll and his highest approval since a 57 - 19 percent score June 12, 2014. Black, white and Hispanic voters all approve.
The poll's assistant director Maurice Carroll said, "Cops turning their backs on their boss, Mayor Bill de Blasio, is unacceptable, New Yorkers say by large margins. Even cop-friendly Staten Island gives that rude gesture only a split decision," adding, "Comments by the PBA's Patrick Lynch that Mayor de Blasio has 'blood on his hands' are condemned by white, black and Hispanic voters alike."
Pat Lynch (left), Al Sharpton (Getty Images)
Further, the voters gave Lynch a "18 - 39 percent favorability rating and say 43 - 27 percent that he is a mostly negative force in the city." And Lynch's foe, the Rev. Al Sharpton, also got very poor reception: "Sharpton gets a negative 29 - 53 percent favorability, his lowest score ever, and voters say 51 - 37 percent that he is a mostly negative force in the city, also his worst score." Plus, 37% of voters think he has too much influence with the mayor. Carroll said, "It's an incongruous pairing, but Lynch and Rev. Al Sharpton, the outspoken police critic, share in the negative judgments of New Yorkers."
Finally, 56% of voters thinks the NYPD slowdown is because the cops are pissed, while 27% think it's because police officers are worried for their safety.
Tagged
al sharpton
mayor de blasio
nypd
nypd slowdown
pat lynch
patrick Lynch
poll
quinnipiac poll
turned backs
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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