Trying again. I havent seen Mark Woods in easily 20 years. When he read a Facebook status I wrote about Erin driving alone in Jersey...he sent me a private message with his phone number and told me I never need worry alone...hes got me and my family covered. His opinions and his messages are invariably from his heart and tempered with the hard truths he has learned in his service to this country and to NYC. I urge EVERYONE to read this in its entirety. And again, I appreciate your efforts to keep your comments thoughtful, respectful and considerate. Mark gave me permission to share this and I admire the job he does every day. Written by Mark Woods My two cents on some very complicated issues . January 3, 2015 at 4:26pm I have been relatively quiet for the last few months in regards to all of the controversy surrounding the NYPD and Mayor DiBlasio. Its not because I don’t have an opinion, of course I do. Its because before I get a chance to write something, I get preoccupied with one of the 5000 other things that a family man with 2 kids must get involved with during the holiday season. Mostly, I read articles, other peoples writings on social media, make a comment here or there, or talk to my wife who is also a MOS. Some times I agree, sometimes I partially agree, sometimes I get very angry and wonder how the writer and I can differ so much in the perception of an issue. Today, I want to write. Today I truly feel that I am in the minority on what I think is an important distinction within the ranks of the New York City Police Department. Before I get to that distinction, there are other points that need to be made on the way down this gradual slope of disenchantment and decline in morale. I want to address 3 issues. I want to address the perceived NYPD work stoppage. I want to address the “turning of the backs” on Mayor DiBlasio. And finally I want to address the “Finest Message” from Commissioner Bratton in regards to behavior at the Funeral for Detective Liu. I read the New York Post every day. It is written at about a 6th grade reading level and does not require much thought or brain power. It is easy, quick, supportive of the NYPD, and its editorials don’t generally get me riled up so early in the morning. A few days ago, the post reported on the dramatic drop in police related activity in regards to the same period last year. The drop in numbers appears staggering. It would appear that the NYPD is on a work stoppage and public safety is in imminent danger of falling apart. The numbers as reported by the NY Post are as follows: 94% drop in traffic summonses 66% drop in arrests for minor crimes 94% drop in criminal court summonses 92% drop in parking summonses Drastic drops in enforcement, yes. Shocking and headline grabbing,yes. Perfect fodder for negative editorials, yes. In other words, a perfect headline to sell papers and ensure that this negativity between the community, mayor, and NYPD continues. Looking at the numbers confuses me. Isn’t less enforcement of minor crimes (marijuana possession for example), less stops due to elimination of “stop of frisk”, less “harassment” of the minority community what 70% of New Yorkers voted Mayor DiBlasio into office for? Wasn’t police reform one of the major platforms that catapulted this mayor into city hall? Despite a huge drop in city revenue, who is complaining about less enforcement of traffic tickets? How can you have it both ways? This dramatic drop in enforcement numbers is a direct result of the movement away from the now vilified “broken windows” theory. Its not a work stoppage, its not a slowdown as a result of police dissatisfaction, it is precisely what the city asked for. The results wont been seen overnight. No, it will take time for the rust and mold to grow. The city will slip back into dark days if we continue on this path. The numbers dropped because we were burying our brother Detective Ramos. The numbers dropped because we had to double up on how we handle jobs due to the constant threats made about “killing pigs”. The numbers dropped because you, the New York City residents, asked for and supported a Mayor who was elected on the platform of this exact reform. The numbers dropped because New York City Police are tired of being used as a revenue stream for a city that resents the very revenue that makes the city a desirable place to live, denies there are quotas, and forces the negative interactions with the community that the vast majority of police consider the worst part of the job. Cops are not being lazy and stopping work. All major crimes are still being investigated, solved, and enforced. New York, if you want to stop taking the medicine called “broken windows”, then you can’t be surprised when the infection returns. I am guessing that the majority of those who actually voted for a mayor unable to get even the basic security clearances that I possess as a necessity to do my job, didn’t live in NY through the 70’s,80’s and 90’s anyway. After the assassination of my fellow brothers in blue, PO Ramos and PO Liu, Pat Lynch, and other union leaders turned their backs on Mayor DiBlasio at the hospital. It was very telling and placed a spotlight on the fracture between City hall and the NYPD. The point was made and the press pounced on the issue. Unfortunately, Det Liu and Det Ramos did not sign the PBA petition that asked the Mayor to stay away from their funerals, and when the families were asked, they wanted the Mayor at the funeral. That was a choice made by PO Ramos and Det Liu’s families. I would never second guess or criticize the choices made by another family in regards to arrangements for the deceased. I have discussed the circumstances with my wife and we are both aware of what we would want under similar circumstances. I would hope peer pressure, press, or politics would never prevent either of us from carrying out our wishes. At the funeral for Detective Ramos, it started slowly. I am talking about the turning of the backs to the Mayor as he spoke. I know his speech was insincere. DiBlasio does not like the NYPD and no amount of public relations will fix that. Anyone who can read basic body language (a skill most police possess), knows how Mayor DiBlasio feels. But the turning of the backs was not a mass act done in unison by those in attendance. It happened slowly. I can’t speak for anyone but myself but I turned because NOT turning would have been a slap to those I was standing with. I found myself too uncomfortable not to turn around. It became an “us or him(the mayor)” moment and although I didn’t agree, like a coward, I joined when I didn’t want to. I strongly believe that it was not the time nor the place for protest. Its my opinion and I am clearly in the minority among my NYPD peers. Those who know me, are well aware that I am not a religious man. I don’t say that lightly. 12 years of catholic school has given be a great base for an active religious belief. I like to quote the Godfather III and say “Faith is a gift I have yet to be given”. That being said, I don’t begrudge or question anyone’s beliefs. I have friends whom are Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Atheist. All are welcome at my table. After all the eulogies were spoken at Det Ramos’ funeral, a preacher spoke. He asked all of us to hold hands. I closed my eyes and listened to his words. For 10 minutes I held the hand of a fellow Detective and Sergeant. The Detective, I never met him before and will most likely never see him again, but we held hands and I listened to the word. Someone sang “Amazing Grace” and tears flowed from beneath my sunglasses. I couldn’t wipe them with my white gloved hand because I was still gripping the hands, an NYPD Sergeant on one side and a Detective on the other. I don’t know who the preacher was and I am not sure I want to. To know his name might compel me to admit that I felt something spiritual for the first time in as along as I can remember. I would be forced to admit that a preacher in Queens touched me in away that a Vice President of the United States, a Governor, a Mayor, and a Police Commissioner couldn’t. This preacher knew enough to have us hold hands, bow our heads to a greater good, and remember why we were together 30,000 strong. When the service was over, the Sergeant and I both said simultaneously, “that should be the cover of tomorrow’s newspaper”. It should have been us, holding hands, standing together, saying goodbye to our fallen brother. It wasn’t though, no, not even close. Every newspaper, every news story on TV, every article on the Internet, was about our backs to the Mayor. The slow moving movement or wave of a few that turned into many. I am ashamed that I was part of it. I am ashamed that I helped turn Det Ramos’ funeral into yet another negative media story. I am sorry that I allowed my cowardice to turn me and join the crowd. I love the NYPD. I love being part of NYPD. I love its history, its culture, I love its uniform, and I love the people who stand with me. Of course I have my issues with the department. Every family has issues. For the past 15 years one of my biggest gripes has been the “threat” or the “tone”, of the language as it got down to the rank and file. It was always negative and FOR YOUR COMPLIANCE. It is always AUTHORITY OF. It is always angry. I’ve accepted it and considered it as part of the job. Yesterday I received the FINEST message from Police Commissioner Bratton. I read it and smiled. It is no secret that I am a fan of William Bratton. I was beyond excited that he was selected by Mayor DiBlasio to take the helm of the NYPD. I think he has the experience and knowledge to improve morale if given the chance. Commissioner Bratton’s FINEST message in regards to the Funeral of Det Liu was a welcome change. “I issue no mandates, and I make no threats of discipline” rang through to me as one cop speaking to another. It was the words of a man speaking sympathetically yet pointing out an obvious truth. We are all hurting but its time to respect ourselves and stop letting the press use us to sell newspapers. Stop making the headline about the division between the mayor and the NYPD. Lets make the headline about unity again. Commissioner Bratton is in a tough position; there is no questioning that. I have been a supervisor in the military. I know enforcing the discipline and maintaining order is not easy and never popular. It must tough to toe the line between an unpopular mayor who continues to insult at every opportunity, and appease the rank and file who look to you for hope. I hope Mayor DiBlassio does not fire Bratton. He is the only hope we have. If DiBlassio fires, or worse, Bratton quits, who does that leave us with? Who is going to lead us for the next 3 years? Be careful of what you wish for, dark days ahead. I’ll stand tomorrow, shoulder to shoulder again with my brothers and sisters in blue from across the country. I’ll face front. I’ll respect the moment. I will not give the press what they so desperately want. I will say goodbye with respect and dignity.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 03:20:27 +0000
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