In NYC mayor vs. police, are insults deserved?

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During the funeral Sunday for New York police officer Wenjian Liu, many officers again turned their backs to Mayor Bill de Blasio for his support of protests against racial profiling.

I agree wholeheartedly with the police officers turning their backs on the mayor, who is supposed to support them. But, not at the funerals of two men in blue who were killed. That is the time for the officers to put aside, temporarily, their anger at the mayor and pay tribute to their fallen brothers.

Sandy Cullen

De Blasio has a lot of nerve even showing up, much less speaking at the funerals. New York’s finest have lost respect for their leader. He ought to resign.

Tedd French

I find this amount of vitriol toward the mayor kind of sense- less. He has an obligation to speak when he sees an injustice, whether you agree or not.

The narrative that all cops are saints is false.

James Harper

LETTERS

LETTERS@USATODAY.COM

What a mess New York City is in

after two of its police officers were ambushed and fatally shot in their patrol car. Then the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch said, “Blood on the hands starts on the steps of city hall in the office of the mayor.” What a ridiculous and divisive statement.

Now police officers have turned their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio on several occasions. How are the police and community supposed to come together when the police officers have no confidence and respect for the mayor?

Thank goodness New York has Police Commissioner Bill Bratton. He will ultimately have to figure things out. My gut feeling tells me de Blasio might be in over his head.

Russ W. Bill

Fountain Valley, Calif.

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We asked readers how to mend the relationship between New York police and Mayor Bill de Blasio. The mayor needs to take steps to ensure that police feel safe and supported or no good people will want to be cops.

@skmecham

Honor means striving to be the better person. Perhaps the New York police should face the man who insulted them, although it hurts.

@Bluestalking

De Blasio should admit he was wrong to take sides in the grand jury decision.

@JasonInNJ

Officers should stop breaking code of conduct or face dismissal. Remember the air traffic controller strike of 1981? They were fired.

@chatiger

The community and the cops need each other. De Blasio pointed out a problem that was already there.

@OnlyWhiteTiger

The mayor turned his back on them, and they were just returning the favor!

@rubicon119

NYPD should’ve taken high road. A fallen officer’s funeral isn’t the time and place.

@sham__1