Disrespecting police a prelude to anarchy?
A no-nonsense guy like Frank Rizzo, who passed away 28 years ago, would have trouble coping with today’s anti-police environment.
In some respects, Philadelphia’s legendary tough cop was the Donald Trump of his day — a man despised by enemies on the left but seen as a warrior of the middle class by right-wing conservatives.
Just as Trump is publicly critical of those who challenge his core beliefs on American exceptionalism, Rizzo had the same kind of passion for law and order. He ascended the ranks to serve as police commissioner from 1968 to 1971 and then mayor of the city from 1972 to 1980.
Rizzo would have bristled at seeing police officers being disrespected in major cities like Chicago and New York. We recently saw NYPD officers hold back from responding after being mocked and having buckets of water thrown at them in the streets.
Charges of racism and police overreacting are rampant these days. The New York City Police Benevolent Association blames politicians for creating a climate that ties the hands of law enforcement.
“The NYPD is now frozen,” said Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association in a statement. “Disorder controls the streets, and our elected leaders refuse to allow us to take them back.”
“As police officers we need to draw a line,” he continued. “In situations like this, we need to take action to protect ourselves and the public.”
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani put the blame directly on liberal Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“This disrespect for the uniform in NYC is result of a Democrat-Progressive (Retrogressive)-Socialist Mayor,” Giuliani tweeted. “This is what happens with knee-jerk disrespect for police. It will only get worse until these left-wing idiots are defeated.”
President Trump also weighed in, calling the water-dousing of officers “a total disgrace” and tweeted that it was time for de Blasio to “STAND UP for those who protect our lives.”
De Blasio is not the only liberal mayor making headlines. Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana, and Lori Lightfoot of Chicago have been heavily criticized by their own police departments.
Lightfoot, who took office in May 20, did not know there was an open microphone during a city council meeting when she whispered to a colleague that Patrick Murray, who leads Chicago’s Fraternal Order of Police, is a “FOP clown.”
The remark quickly circulated on social media.
Asked for a comment after the meeting, Lightfoot refused to directly apologize, simply stating that “it was not appropriate for me to say that out loud.”
A statement by one Chicago FOP chapter labeled Lightfoot’s remark as “a misguided and dangerous thing to say about a veteran police officer at a time when the city is facing such chronic violent crime.
Like Bill de Blasio, Pete Buttigieg is running for the Democratic presidential nomination. And like de Blasio, the mayor of South Bend doesn’t seem to have a lot of friends in his own police department.
The South Bend chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police president has slammed Buttigieg for the low morale of its own officers after a report of “mass exodus” in their ranks surfaced.
The shooting of a black man by an officer sparked intense racial tensions which boiled over during a protest at a recent South Bend council meeting. One FOP lodge criticized Buttigieg for using the shooting “solely for his political gain and not the health of the city he serves.”
Former NYPD Commissioner Bernie Kerik, who is no fan of either candidate, said the fact that De Blasio and Buttigieg want to take those leadership skills on a national level would destructive for the country.
He stated that history has proven that Democratic leadership has been responsible for increased violence and crime, reduced real estate values and economic development, and higher welfare rolls in urban cities.
He is not alone in his criticism.
Seeing the men in blue not respond after having buckets of water thrown at them is not a good look for America. Street hooliganism may seem trivial and harmless to liberals but many conservatives consider it a step toward anarchy.
A public humiliation of police officers would have made Frank Rizzo’s blood boil.
By Jim Zbick | tneditor@tnonline.com
Comments
Rambo,
Obama owns more than "some credit".
He actually built it. The only thing Obama ever manufactured was this chaos.
You built that Barack!
Commissioner Kerik, is spot on, I'd say, any Democrat taking their leadership skills on a national level would destructive for the country. Worth repeat...
"He stated that history has proven that Democratic leadership has been responsible for increased violence and crime, reduced real estate values and economic development, and higher welfare rolls in urban cities."
He is not alone in his criticism, most of us agree.
Good Read Jim
Who the heck are you anyway? Joe Who?
When is this rag's comment section going to start calling for accountability? Why is it that people can come here and call names, accuse others of this and that, be rude, vile and obnoxious?
Hello? Editor? Hello?
Is there any adults in the room? This "Kid" Joe is becoming an irritant! Beat it kid, you bother me.
Sign me...
The bigotted/racist/xenophobe/sexist/Christian from Walnutport, PA
Have a great day Joe... who ever you are.
Come up with some viable debate or argument, that racist crap is old, and quite honestly, I don't believe in the word. It's a made up thing. I look at us all as being one race, all lives matter. We may have cultural differences, but we are all members of the human race. So stop it, you're being childish boy!
I can't see Obama as anything but a kid. He never worked with congress, did what he wanted through executive orders. He'd draw a redline across the International globe, and then back down like a little boy. He communicated best with other kids...
His was the, “have TelePrompTer, will travel” president as he would hit the road to be with his base... College Kids.
I don't recall the Kenyan Kid ever having a one on one debate with an adult from the conservative side. I'll tell you what Joe, you post a video of Barack debating and acting like a man, with another man, and I might change my view. Don't go to the Beer Summit either. Ha Ha Ha You may have to get some video of him shooting clay birds... naw forget that. Shooting hoops?
Kid Fury?
Kid Rock?
The wrestler... Dynamite Kid?
I'm a racist, bigot who hates woman, babies, people in general... yeah, yeah that's the ticket.
I love when people call me this, or that, as I've become numb to it.
Bring it on Joey the Kid!
NEWSFLASH:
Racism does not exist. It has never existed. It's an illusion — a lie created by the Children of the Lie to intimidate white people through fear, and to control blacks and others through anger. Jesse Lee Peterson clearly realized this after writing his book "The Antidote: Healing America from the Poison of Hate, Blame and Victimhood."
Jesse is an authority, as his daddy was a slave. Jesse is black, and he... dare I say? HE PICKED COTTON!
Look up Jesse Peterson
Jesse is a hated black man, and he doesn't care. He only cares that the truth be laid out for all to see. Check him out Joe.
I agree with my brother Jesse. There is no "racism" — there is only love or hate, truth and lies, good and evil. "Racism" is a made up word. Now stop drinking that Kool-Aid Joe.
Hey, I'd leave if there was a true conservative party
I read his best selling book, “The Art of the Deal”. Trump is a successful businessman that has turned out to be a much better than I expected. Good things sometimes come from the unexpected. Trump grew up in a tough NYC business environment. He went to a Military Prep School (New York Military Academy) and was Cadet Captain. He later went to the Wharton School of Business. He has ran many businesses and employed thousands of workers. He has authored a best selling book. He has starred/directed a top rated TV show for years. Trump has turned out to be much better than I expected. You wait and see. MAGA!