Polls are showing that the de facto work slowdown by the NYPD and open disrespect of Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has called for reforms and better police-community relations, are backfiring with the public on the thuggish leader of the Policemen's Benevolent Association, Patrick "The Mouth" Lynch, and the union. Lynch became infamous when, after two NYPD officers were murdered, he said Mayor de Blasio had "blood on his hands" and demanded an "apology" from the mayor for telling his mixed-race son how to behave when interacting with police.
Lynch's own members are starting to realize that his extremism and demagoguery are having a negative effect on the police force. Earlier this week, a union meeting in Queens with Lynch turned into a shouting, shoving melee as roughly 100 police shouted at Lynch to pay attention to their working conditions and protective gear, rather than demagoguing City Hall. But who knows? Lynch could have other career plans in mind: would it surprise anyone if he ran as a Rethuglican for office some day? Loudmouth belligerence didn't seem to do any harm to Rudy Noun Verb 9-11.
