New York police union chief under fire for 'exploiting' deaths of two officers
Source: Guardian
New York police union chief under fire for 'exploiting' deaths of two officers
Patrick Lynch, critical of Mayor Bill de Blasio after shooting deaths of Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, appears in ‘disgusting’ campaign video featuring image of him attending makeshift memorial
Lauren Gambino in New York
@LGamGam
Thursday 19 February 2015 12.42 EST
The outspoken president of one of New York’s main police unions has come under fire for a campaign video critics say exploits the deaths of two NYPD officers who were killed in an attack in December.
Some officers from New York City’s 84th precinct, where officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos worked, are upset that the video includes an image of Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) president Patrick Lynch attending a makeshift memorial for the officers, according to a report by the New York Daily News.
“It’s disgusting,” said an officer assigned to the 84th precinct, according to the newspaper. “I just don’t think a death of a cop should be used as an election tool.”
The video, which runs just over a minute, shows a series of images of Lynch dressed in blue, some taken at the Brooklyn street corner where the officers were shot by Ismaaiyl Brinsley, a 28-year-old with a history of mental health problems, while sitting in their patrol car on 20 December. As the photos of Lynch appear, the video states: “He has brought back pride to the PBA” and “unmatched dedication to the members” and “re-elect team Lynch in 2015”.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/19/new-york-police-union-chief-pat-lynch-campaign-video
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