Poll: New Yorkers Overwhelmingly Disapprove Of Cops Turning Backs On Bill de Blasio

Poll: New Yorkers Disapprove Of Cops Turning Backs On Mayor

Attacks by the New York City police unions on Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) may have backfired.

New York City voters across racial lines disapprove of recent protests in which police officers turned their backs on de Blasio at the funeral of two police officers slain in the line of duty, a new Quinnipiac poll says.

Black, white and Hispanic voters disapprove of the decision by police officers to turn their backs 69 percent to 27 percent, the poll says.

New York voters of all races also disapprove of comments by police union leaders who said de Blasio had "blood on his hands" after two officers were shot and killed in Brooklyn while sitting in their patrol car in December.

Ismaaiyl Brinsley, the alleged gunman, had posted references in social media to the police killings of Michael Brown in Missouri and Eric Garner in New York's Staten Island before shooting the officers. Union officials had complained the de Blasio was not supportive enough of the city's officers during protests that followed a grand jury's decision not to indict a police officer in the Garner case.

“That blood on the hands starts on the steps of City Hall in the office of the mayor,” Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said in a statement after the officers were killed. “When these funerals are over, those responsible will be called on the carpet and held accountable.”

Voters said that those comments were "too extreme" by a margin of 77 percent to 17 percent. The poll found that "there is no party, gender, racial, borough or age group which finds the comments 'appropriate.'"

New York voters were more divided along racial lines when they were asked whether de Blasio had supported police. A majority of black and Hispanic voters who were surveyed said that the mayor supported police during his mayoral campaign and his first year in office, while white voters said 49 percent to 36 percent that he did not.

Lynch's December comments began a nasty public feud with de Blasio. Lynch has said that de Blasio has unfairly attacked police, who are only following the policies set by the mayor.

"If the policy is wrong then change it. We’ll follow our orders and effectively police that policy. But when he criticizes his department, he’s criticizing his own policy,” he said in an interview with NPR last week.

Lynch has demanded an apology from de Blasio, who has recently taken a somewhat harder line against those protesting for policing reforms.

Before You Go

DON EMMERT via Getty Images
Maritza Ramos (C), wife of New York Police Officer Rafael Ramos, holds the colors as she is joined by her sons Justin (C-L) and Jaden (C-R) during the funeral for Ramos at the Christ Tabernacle Church in New York on December 27, 2014. Thousands of people, including US Vice President Joe Biden, attended the funeral Saturday for Ramos, one of two New York officers shot dead in apparent revenge for recent police killings of unarmed black men. Ramos was shot alongside his partner Wenjian Liu on December 20 on the heels of nationwide protests accusing police of racism and using excessive force against black people. AFP PHOTO/DON EMMERT (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)
Kevin Hagen via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Pallbearers carry the casket for the funeral of slain New York Police Department (NYPD) officer Rafael Ramos at the Christ Tabernacle Church on December 27, 2014 in the Glenwood section of the Queens borough of New York City. Ramos was shot, along with Police Officer Wenjian Liu while sitting in their patrol car in an ambush attack in Brooklyn on December 20. Thousands of fellow officers, family, friends and Vice President Joseph Biden arrived at the church for the funeral. (Photo by Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Justin Ramos, the son of slain New York City police officer Rafael Ramos, left, is comforted by his mother, Maritza Ramos, following funeral services at Christ Tabernacle Church, in the Glendale section of Queens, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, in New York. Ramos and his partner, officer Wenjian Liu, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. Also pictured is officer Ramos' other son, Jaden Ramos, bottom. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Family members of New York City police officer Rafael Ramos, including his son Jaden Ramos, center, and his wife Maritza Ramos, right, arrive before funeral services for officer Ramos at Christ Tabernacle Church, in the Glendale section of Queens, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, in New York. Ramos and his partner, officer Wenjian Liu, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Police helicopters fly above television antenas as they do a flyover for the funeral at Christ Tabernacle Church for slain New York City Police Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two officers murdered while sitting in their patrol car in an ambush in Brooklyn last Saturday afternoon on December 27, 2014 in New York City. Thousands of fellow officers, family, friends and Vice President Joseph Biden are expected at the church in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens for the funeral. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Kevin Mazur via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Justin Ramos arrives wearing his father's jacket to the funeral of his father slain New York City Police Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two officers murdered while sitting in their patrol car in an ambush in Brooklyn last Saturday afternoon on December 27, 2014 in New York City. Thousands of fellow officers, family, friends and Vice President Joseph Biden are expected at the church in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens for the funeral. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden and his wife Jill (R) enter the Christ Tabernacle Church for the funeral of slain New York City Police Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two officers murdered while sitting in their patrol car in an ambush in Brooklyn last Saturday afternoon on December 27, 2014 in New York City. Thousands of fellow officers, family, politicians and friendsare expected at the church in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens for the funeral. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A police officer waits for the funeral of New York City police officer Rafael Ramos in the Glendale section of Queens, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, in New York. Ramos and his partner, officer Wenjian Liu, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A painting of New York Police Department officer Rafael Ramos is on display outside of Christ Tabernacle Church before his funeral at in the Glendale section of Queens, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014, in New York. Ramos and his partner, officer Wenjian Liu, were killed Dec. 20 as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street. The shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, later killed himself. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Police officers from around the country gather outside of Christ Tabernacle Church for the funeral of slain New York City Police Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two officers murdered while sitting in their patrol car in an ambush in Brooklyn last Saturday afternoon on December 27, 2014 in New York City. Thousands of fellow officers, family, friends and Vice President Joseph Biden are expected at the church in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens for the funeral. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Police officers from around the country gather outside of Christ Tabernacle Church for the funeral of slain New York City Police Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two officers murdered while sitting in their patrol car in an ambush in Brooklyn last Saturday afternoon on December 27, 2014 in New York City. Thousands of fellow officers, family, friends and Vice President Joseph Biden are expected at the church in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens for the funeral. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Kevin Hagen via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: An officer directs traffic for the funeral of slain New York City Police Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two officers murdered while sitting in their patrol car in an ambush in Brooklyn last Saturday afternoon on December 27, 2014 in New York City. Thousands of fellow officers, family, friends and Vice President Joseph Biden are expected at the church in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens for the funeral. (Photo by Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)
Kevin Hagen via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Church staff place flowers on top of a vehicle before the funeral of slain New York City Police Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two officers murdered while sitting in their patrol car in an ambush in Brooklyn last Saturday afternoon on December 27, 2014 in New York City. Thousands of fellow officers, family, friends and Vice President Joseph Biden are expected at the church in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens for the funeral. (Photo by Kevin Hagen/Getty Images)
Spencer Platt via Getty Images
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Police officers from around the country gather outside of Christ Tabernacle Church for the funeral of slain New York City Police Officer Rafael Ramos, one of two officers murdered while sitting in their patrol car in an ambush in Brooklyn last Saturday afternoon on December 27, 2014 in New York City. Thousands of fellow officers, family, friends and Vice President Joseph Biden are expected at the church in the Glendale neighborhood of Queens for the funeral. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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