NYPD Union Leader: De Blasio Has Given ‘the Street Back to the Criminals'
New York City Police Benevolent Association President blasts mayor
© press
President of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, Patrick J. Lynch, torched Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city council for the surge in violent gun crime, saying they have "given our streets back" to criminals.
"Our city council, our mayor's office, and the state legislature have handcuffed police officers and given the street back to the criminals," Lynch told Fox News's Lawrence Jones on "Hannity."
"Remember just a few short years ago; the city was out of control," Lynch said.
"Police officers literally took our street corners back block-by-block because our leadership asked us to, and we presented the neighborhoods back to the good, hardworking people that were in them."
"Well, this administration decided that's not good.
"They demonize police officers; they change the rules, where it's impossible to do our job, and the criminals take advantage," he added.
© press
"When a criminal hears from City Hall, there's going to be a 'soft touch' on crime; they know exactly what that means," Lynch continued.
"It means there's a smorgasboard on the street, and we're going to take advantage of it, and they have."
Lynch accused de Blasio of "cowardice" in the face of Black Lives Matter protests and escalating crime.
Rep. Zeldin Calls for Mayor de Blasio to be 'Removed from Office' to 'Save' New York
— Neon Nettle (@NeonNettle) July 9, 2020
READ MORE: https://t.co/zhE48Deil3
"They're not going to stop at a billion dollars [cut from the NYPD budget], they don't want police officers on our streets," Lynch said, referring to the "defund the police" movement.
"They don't want them taking the guns out of perps' belts.
"What's next? What's the next slogan we are going to chase?"
© press
De Blasio last month announced the cuts from the $6 billion police budget and, instead, diverting the money to social services.
In June, violent crime in the city claimed the life of an 11-year-old boy who was shot while playing outside of his home in Flatbush.
Earlier this month, a father was shot dead in front of his 6-year-old daughter.
Neon Nettle reported earlier this week that a one-year-old baby was also shot in the stomach during a cookout at a Brooklyn area park on Sunday.
Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blamed surging violence on people being too “scared to pay their rent” due to high unemployment.
In July, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea blamed de Blasio for the rise in violent crime.
Shea called New York City's recent spike in violence "predictable," considering police budgets have been slashed, and 2,500 inmates have been released from Rikers Island prison.
