Political inexperience is the likely explanation for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s current rift with the New York Police Department, former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn said Tuesday on
Newsmax TV’s "America’s Forum."
"He was in a heated campaign and he saw a political constituency that he was trying to cultivate, but that's now behind him," Flynn said.
"He's now the mayor of the great city of New York. So I would also listen to (New York Police Commissioner) Bill Bratton."
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De Blasio has drawn
the ire of city police officers after appearing to side with protesters following the decision of two grand juries, both of which declined to indict the white police officers involved in the deaths of two unarmed black men, one in New York City, the other in Ferguson, Missouri.
He said at a news conference that he has advised his biracial son to be extra careful when dealing with police.
De Blasio and the police union have "a responsibility and obligation to work together to bring the city together," Flynn said. "The situation is difficult enough without having these two important voices at odds."
Agreeing with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and others, Flynn said de Blasio owes the police in his city an apology and that he should allow Bratton, an experienced law enforcement executive who, in addition to New York, has led the Los Angeles and Boston police departments, to run the police department.
"I'd also make sure that de Blasio’s … on the side of the police and he doesn't let other people — agitators or anybody else — speak for him or speak for the city," Flynn said, adding that controversial civil rights activist Al Sharpton, an "outside agitator," should be muted.
"It's almost like Al Sharpton is the voice of New York and that's a mistake for any mayor to allow somebody to be the spokesperson for you," Flynn said.
De Blasio needs to seize the opportunity to lead the city during such a tumultuous time, and he needs to win the support of police.
"These are good people, don't make them the enemy," he said. "They're your friends. They're the people who can help unite this city."
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