New Yorkers disapprove of police disrespecting Mayor de Blasio by huge margin

In a Quinnipiac poll, New Yorkers disapprove -- 77% to 17% -- of comments that "That blood on the hands starts on the steps of City Hall in the office of the mayor."    Those comments were made by Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association concerning the murder of two police officers by a man with a grievance against police because of the killing of Michale Brown and Eric Garner.

It was not only the comments made in December but the fact that the mayor's attempts to work through the tension has met with cool disdain and a 'we'll see' comments from Lynch, as though the mayor has to jump through some more hoops before he's forgiven.

Of course, many didn't think the mayor had anything to be forgiven for.    He did speak publically, after Garner's death and the acquittal of the officer who killed him, about the plight of young black men and his worry for his own mixed race son.   Yet he also made quite supportive comments about the difficult job police officers have.

Also by a huge margin -- 69% to 27% -- voters disapprove of the decision by police officers to turn their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio twice, when he was speaking at the two funerals of the slain officers.

Reportedly, there was a fiery confrontation at a meeting of the police unions yesterday that devolved into a shouting match.   One objective fact is known:    Lynch now apparently faces some opposition for re-election to his job as president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association.

In his often-replayed press conference speech, Lynch comes across as arrogant, belligerent and uncompromising.   It's Lynch, not the mayor, who needs to apologize, in my opinion.  And the police need to do their job and not disrespect the mayor they work for.  It's good to see that the people of New York think so too.

Ralph