Bill de Blasio (left) and Police Commissioner James O'Neill. Photo: Getty Images
Mayor de Blasio on Monday told loudmouths subjecting NYPD officers to brazen bouts of nasty verbal abuse to “knock it off,’’ but police insiders dismissed the support as “too little too late.”
“Respect for police is absolutely necessary,” de Blasio said. “I’ve seen some videos that disgust me. They are not acceptable.
“Anyone that thinks it’s cute, it’s not cute,” he said. “Knock it off.”
The mayor’s remarks came on the same day as a Post front-page story detailing rampant verbal abuse of New York’s Finest by emboldened foul-mouthed residents, who have been taking advantage of the City Hall-backed NYPD’s hands-off approach in such incidents, critics say.
A police source said the mayor was right to say what he did — but his words were far too late.
“It’s nice to hear him say something in regards to supporting police. But I think it’s too far gone at this point,” the source said. “These perps already feel they can do whatever they want. It’s too little too late.”
Frequent de Blasio critic and Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association president Patrick Lynch agreed that the support came up short.
“All of our city’s leaders — including Mayor de Blasio, the City Council and the NYPD’s leadership — need to reconsider the more than half-decade of policy-making that has normalized anti-social behavior,” Lynch said in a statement.
“Without a dramatic sea change, criminals who prey upon our communities will continue to grow bolder with the knowledge that any police officer who challenges them is placing his or her career at risk,” Lynch added.
Among those caught on video verbally blasting cops was Christian Roman, who recorded himself last week going off on six officers after they approached him because he fit the description of an armed suspect.
“Suck my d–k,” Roman railed. “Tell your daughter to come see me to suck this d–k. F—-t.”
Another video from a Bronx apartment-building stairwell showed cops being verbally abused by residents and doing nothing.
NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan released a department-wide internal video of support for cops Monday.
“These videos do not depict an environment in which cops are unwilling to engage in their duties or are unsure about what their duties are,” Monahan said, according to sources.
“I know this because there are countless instances of heroic, proactive, intelligent police work happening across our city on a regular basis.”