# And now: What about all those cops turning their backs on De Blasio? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 27, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293 "2014-12-27T20:22:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/61 "2014-12-28T00:36:23Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Personally I think it was grossly insulting to the Ramos family to turn his funeral into a political protest. That is the most shameful part of their action. The Blue Wall of spoiled brats. Hey, look at us, we have a grievance. Waaaaahhh. Fucking cry babies. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/62 "2014-12-28T00:48:05Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > As lovely a thought as this is, you can’t do it. What you’d wind up doing is leaving the largest city in the country without a police force. I was thinking the same thing-- well, the last part, that is. Only I’m not sure\* those actions could be grounds for firing. All this talk of “insubordination” is an interesting thought, but where is the statute that these Men in Blue are violating? I think they’re being asses, but being an ass isn’t necessary against the law. In fact, it’s part of being a New Yorker, no? 🙂 \*meaning precisely that: I’m not sure this is a fireable offense. That is not to say I know it is not. It’s just not obvious to me one way or the other. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/63 "2014-12-28T00:48:12Z")
> [@Bruce\_Wayne](#): > > he has also publically made statements about fearing for the safety of his son Gee, I wonder why. Have you even been paying attention lately? His son is biracial, which to the average police officer is the same as black. Which apparently means he has a bullseye target on his chest. I’d worry, too. Buncha fascist copsuckers… ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/64 "2014-12-28T00:50:38Z")
Were all these police white? According to wikipedia, only 53% of the NYPD is white. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/65 "2014-12-28T01:03:53Z")
Was it every single police officer present? Were there any dissenters at all – any cops who didn’t turn their backs? ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/66 "2014-12-28T01:13:07Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Were all these police white? According to wikipedia, only 53% of the NYPD is white. 100% of the NYPD is some shade of blue. CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/67 "2014-12-28T01:16:18Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Was it every single police officer present? Were there any dissenters at all – any cops who didn’t turn their backs? From the link, it appears that those inside the church did not turn their backs, but those outside (presumably the overflow crowd) turned their backs on a screen projecting the mayor’s eulogy. I did not see any dissenters in the crowd, and there were a few black faces with backs turned, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/68 "2014-12-28T01:21:40Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Were all these police white? According to wikipedia, only 53% of the NYPD is white. No, it’s clear from the picture that many were black and it’s hardly that easy to tell from a picture if someone is “white” or “Hispanic”. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/69 "2014-12-28T01:21:44Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > Please submit your definition of “mutiny” for my consideration. Otherwise, I will have no idea what you are trying to say. That’s because you’re stupid, and need partisan direction to decide which side of an issue you’re on. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/70 "2014-12-28T01:26:03Z")
> [@seal\_cleaner](#): > > I wasn’t clear. I’ve heard commentators talk about the mayor “needing the support of the police” to effectively run the city, just as some regimes rule only with the support of the army. My point was, they spoke as if he served at the pleasure of the police, or they’d install someone else. Every Mayor in every major city in America has had public fights with public employees unions. Hell, plenty of governors have had nasty fights with teachers’ unions. I don’t think any of us would have felt Bill Clinton would have been justified in firing the teachers who marched in protest against him while chanting “We won’t take your stupid test!” Of at least I’d like to believe most of us would feel that way. Not of course that I didn’t find the actions of the NYPD quite disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/71 "2014-12-28T01:27:05Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > That’s because you’re stupid, and need partisan direction to decide which side of an issue you’re on. Actually, what I find ironic here is how the SDMB is suddenly the model of deference to authority, with calls for mass firings without even understanding if there is a fireable offense involved. I’d like to see how many here would be lining up to condemn soldiers who turned their back on Bush had the president at the time attended a funeral for someone killed in Iraq. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/72 "2014-12-28T01:28:40Z")
> [@Ibn\_Warraq](#): > > Every Mayor in every major city in America has had public fights with public employees unions. > > Hell, plenty of governors have had nasty fights with teachers’ unions. > > I don’t think any of us would have felt Bill Clinton would have been justified in firing the teachers who marched in protest against him while chanting “We won’t take your stupid test!” Bad analogy. Teachers have no employment responsibility to the president, and are not even federal employees. Clinton was not in a position to fire any teachers. I like my analogy better. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/73 "2014-12-28T01:29:35Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The mayor should not be worried about having the support of the police. > > The police should be worried about having the support of the mayor. That is the problem, in a nutshell. The cops think the mayor has thrown the department under the bus. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/74 "2014-12-28T01:30:52Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > It’s very simple. Police officers are NOT U.S. military personal (which was the issue being clarified). Police officers are not subject to UCMJ. It’s not the issue I was clarifying, as you are 100% correct on that. The posters comparing the police to the military, are, in fact, buying into an assumption that I completely and totally disagree with. The police are not military, they are civilians. The issue I was clarifying, or was attempting to clarify, is that the New York police are employees of the city of New York, and their boss is the mayor of New York, and they were being insubordinate to their boss. Do you disagree with anything in that sentence? ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/75 "2014-12-28T01:39:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Actually, what I find ironic here is how the SDMB is suddenly the model of deference to authority, with calls for mass firings without even understanding if there is a fireable offense involved. > > I’d like to see how many here would be lining up to condemn soldiers who turned their back on Bush had the president at the time attended a funeral for someone killed in Iraq. I don’t see the point of “ah, but if the shoe were on the other foot” suggestions. Those blind to bias are hard enough to persuade with actual evidence of hypocrisy, let alone with guesses, and those undecided probably aren’t going to be swayed by suppositions. It just seem the only effect will be insult - but I guess this is the Pit! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/76 "2014-12-28T01:41:52Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Bad analogy. Teachers have no employment responsibility to the president, and are not even federal employees. Clinton was not in a position to fire any teachers. I like my analogy better. 🙂 Clinton had a career before being president. It was Arkansas teachers protesting his plan as governor. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/77 "2014-12-28T01:43:17Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Actually, what I find ironic here is how the SDMB is suddenly the model of deference to authority, with calls for mass firings without even understanding if there is a fireable offense involved. > > I’d like to see how many here would be lining up to condemn soldiers who turned their back on Bush had the president at the time attended a funeral for someone killed in Iraq. I’d expect those soldiers to be fired. And would both respect them, and have little sympathy for them being drummed out. Being willing to be shit-canned for making a statement, is what makes the statement bold. The difference, of course, is that our friend the Mayor did absolutely nothing wrong. And Bush, well, I personally think he should be hanged for torturing people. I leave you to return to your ceaseless task of uttering, “nuh uh, conservatives aren’t _that_ bad!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/78 "2014-12-28T01:48:23Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > That is the problem, in a nutshell. The cops think the mayor has thrown the department under the bus. I’m not sure why, though – “there should be some improvement” doesn’t sound like throwing anyone under the bus. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/79 "2014-12-28T01:51:30Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Bad analogy. Teachers have no employment responsibility to the president, and are not even federal employees. Clinton was not in a position to fire any teachers. I like my analogy better. 🙂 D’oh! My bad, I should have been that I was referring to when he was Governor Clinton and they were pissed off at him regarding pissing contests over recertification. I don’t think your comparison to the military is correct, because they don’t have unions. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293/80 "2014-12-28T01:56:00Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > I’d expect those soldiers to be fired. And would both respect them, and have little sympathy for them being drummed out. Being willing to be shit-canned for making a statement, is what makes the statement bold. > > The difference, of course, is that our friend the Mayor did absolutely nothing wrong. And Bush, well, I personally think he should be hanged for torturing people. > I leave you to return to your ceaseless task of uttering, “nuh uh, conservatives aren’t _that_ bad!” 😃 So is your opinion that Governor Christie of New Jersey should be able to fire teachers who publicly protest against him? Should we declare that Bill De Blasio should be able to fire any public employees who go on strike union rules and contracts be damned? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-now-what-about-all-those-cops-turning-their-backs-on-de-blasio/708293.md?page=5)