New York Mayor Bill de Blasio received criticism after he missed the vigil for slain Bronx officer, Miosotis Familia. The mayor left for Hamburg, Germany for the G-20 summit a day after the officer’s killing.
According to the New York Daily News, Familia was killed on July 5 while many were still celebrating the Fourth of July. She was inside her patrol vehicle together with her partner when a former convict, who was schizophrenic, opened fire on the car. Familia was shot dead with a single bullet to the head.
Why de Blasio is criticized
Fox News reported that during a speech at the G-20 summit, de Blasio praised the police force of Germany.
He thanked the police there and noted that the force carried out “great acts of bravery and restraint.” During de Blasio's trip, police and citizens in the Bronx held a vigil to honor Familia. The vigil was held at the 46th Precinct, the station where she worked.
In a statement made by Ed Mullins, the president of the Sergeants Benevolent Association, he said that the mayor did not learn anything from the time the men and women of the police force turned their backs on de Blasio in the past. Mullins did not say what made the police force turn their backs on the mayor before but his statement was taken as his way of saying that de Blasio missed other important events in the past.
Mullins’ statements were given during an interview with radio show host John Catsimatidis.
Mullins noted during the interview that police are seen as the enemy of the people not only in New York but all over the United States. He added that someone should kill that kind of thinking and he went on to criticize de Blasio saying they do not see much leadership in the mayor. Mullins said that de Blasio should come out and explain “the police are not your enemy," but the mayor has not done that yet.
Mullins continued to question whether the mayor is really fit to be a leader.
Aside from Mullins, the president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, Pat Lynch, also said in a statement that no one in the police force is surprised that de Blasio left a day after the Bronx officer was killed while on duty. Some attendees at the vigil also criticized de Blasio.
One said it is disgraceful to leave for another event while another one said he understands where the mayor is now but he should have thought about what is happening in the city. He should there when a tragedy happens, like the killing of Familia.
Fox News mentioned that de Blasio "refused to take any more questions when a Post reporter approached to ask for a response to the criticism he has received — from police, political opponents, and New Yorkers — for leaving the city just one day after Familia’s assassination to grandstand on a global stage."
Mayor’s spokesman explains situation
The spokesman of de Blasio, Eric Phillips, said that the mayor left for Germany and planned to make it back in time for Familia’s funeral.
The mayor is also set to visit the home of Familia on Monday.
Phillips also said that de Blasio did do something as a result of the killing of Familia before going to Germany. He ordered all the patrol vehicles of the New York Police Department to be altered and to have bullet-resistant windows and doors.
