Unfortunately, police have a tendency to adopt a siege mentality, circling the wagons on every occasion of potential wrongdoing. Then they wonder why the public has a growing distrust of police departments, even as they defend the indefensible. Police must stop defending criminals in their midst if they hope to regain the public support they should so clearly have.

Don't get carried away analyzing the presence of Bill and Hillary Clinton at the de Blasio inauguration. Starting this week, it is de Blasio who is the big show, not the Clintons.