Hundreds of NYPD cops continue to disrespect the mayor at every opportunity. The latest display occurred when officers booed him while he was giving a commencement speech at the city’s police academy. This involves more than a personal grudge, it’s a clash between police and civilian authority. The cops want absolute and unquestioning obedience from citizens, and the right to use force if they don’t get it; the mayor got elected by promising citizens a different kind of policing, which the cops are indicating they won’t accept. This is a police revolt against civilian authority.
It can’t be tolerated. Even pro-cop firebrand Rudy Giuliani, who delights in publicly criticizing Mayor DeBlasio, said, “Doesn’t matter if you like the mayor or you don’t like the mayor; you have to respect the mayor’s position.” The cops still refuse to do so.
New Yorkers chose this mayor and have to right to his policies. The police are city employees, and do not have a right to superimpose their own wishes over mayoral policies.
This isn’t a free speech issue, it’s an insubordination issue. The cops have free speech rights like everyone else when they’re off duty and not in uniform. On duty, wearing that badge, they are subordinates obliged to do as ordered by their employer. If they disagree, they’re free to seek other employment.
Conservatives cheered when President Ronald Reagan fired the nation’s air traffic controllers en masse for striking illegally. To be consistent, they also should cheer Mayor DeBlasio fires insubordinate cops. It’s just about time for him to start doing that, starting with the ringleaders of New York City’s police revolt.