Jersey Shore Aerial Advertising
An anti-de Blasio ad was flown over the Hudson River.
The bad blood between NYPD cops and Mayor de Blasio became an air war Friday.
A plane trailing a banner reading “DE BLASIO, OUR BACKS HAVE TURNED TO YOU” flew over the Hudson River in a show of disdain for the mayor after two officers were executed in their squad car in Brooklyn last Saturday.
Ashley Chalmers, head of Jersey Shore Aerial Advertising, told the Daily News the people who paid for the message “want to remain anonymous.”
But former cop John Cardillo blogged that a “large and unified group of current and retired NYC police officers, detectives, & supervisors” asked him to post a lengthy statement about the plane once it was in sight over the city shortly before 9 a.m.
“We are outraged by the mayor’s incendiary rhetoric, and for facilitating the current hostile climate towards the NYPD. We understand that the department and even our own unions can only go so far in their public condemnation of the mayor as to not irreparably damage the working relationship with the city, or future contract negotiations,” the statement read.
“It is our opinion that Mayor de Blasio’s dangerous and irresponsible comments about his and his wife’s concern for their son’s safety at the hands of the NYPD fueled the flames that led to civil unrest, and potentially to the deaths of PO Wenjian Liu and PO Rafael Ramos, as well as the continued threats against NYPD personnel. The Mayor shows us no respect, and encourages the public to follow his lead.”
The back-turning reference is a reminder of how cops gave de Blasio the cold shoulder when he visited the hospital where the executed officers were taken.
Many cops are angry with de Blasio for meeting with demonstrators and not backing the NYPD more strongly after a grand jury refused to make an indictment in the chokehold death of Eric Garner on Staten Island.
Some also are incensed by de Blasio’s public commentary about advising his biracial son, Dante, to be wary in any interaction with the police.
De Blasio spokesman Wiley Norvell said, “This is a time to think about the families and honor our fallen officers. Dividing people won’t help our city heal. We’ll continue to stand with responsible New Yorkers who are doing the right thing in a time of pain.”
Cardillo told the Daily News a group of “about a few hundred cops” — current and retired — contacted him three days ago, wanting to make a statement that went beyond the constraints of what their union leaders might say.
“We had a bad relationship with [former Mayor David] Dinkins, but Dinkins never came out and said he worried about his son’s safety with the NYPD,” Cardillo said the cops told him.
John Minchillo/AP
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, speaks during a news conference at Woodhull Medical Center, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, in New York. An anti-de Blasio banner was flown in the sky above the Hudson River on Friday.
“They said that was just beyond the pale. They felt that if he hadn’t said that, tensions would not have been inflamed.”
Cardillo said the officers pulled together about $1,200 and hired the banner plane to fly out of Central Jersey Regional Airport — but asked him not to publicize it until the trip was under way because they were concerned de Blasio “might order NYPD Aviation to divert the plane.”
The plane made five loops over the Hudson between the Statue of Liberty and the George Washington Bridge before flying back to the airport later in the morning.
Cardillo said the officers were “adamant” that the airborne demonstration be arranged so as not to interfere with the wake being held for Ramos Friday afternoon.
As to whether the group will identify its individual members or take further action, “They’re waiting to see where their unions fall on this,” Cardillo said.
Patrolmens Benevolent Association boss “Pat Lynch has made some statements that are very pro-cop, but they understand the unions can only go so far,” Cardillo said.
Since Saturday night, Lynch has declined to comment on relations between the police union and the mayor, who has asked for a moratorium on all protests until the two fallen officers are buried.
The president of the Detectives Endowment Association, Michael Palladino, said Friday, “The banner was neither funded nor sanctioned by the union. However the message is a universal sentiment in law enforcement.”
The statement blogged by Cardillo said, “Mayor de Blasio clearly doesn’t understand nor care that every man and woman of the NYPD would give their life to protect his son, his family, and every other resident of New York City. Tragically, two of our Finest made that ultimate sacrifice days before Christmas.
“We no longer have confidence in Mayor de Blasio, nor in his ability to lead New York City and promote the values that both the NYPD and the good law abiding citizens of the city hold dear. Mayor de Blasio turned his back on us long before we turned our backs on him.”
