Some New York City Police Department officers turned their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio as he spoke at slain officer Miosotis Familia's funeral Tuesday.
Thousands of NYPD officers attended Familia's funeral in the Bronx at World Changers Church New York, CBS reported.
LIVE NOW: @BilldeBlasio delivers remarks at the funeral for Officer #MiosotisFamilia. https://t.co/mgYL6NpTuN pic.twitter.com/qr7A0YJIIj
— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) July 11, 2017
The 48-year-old NYPD officer was fatally shot in the head by Alexander Bonds on July 5. She was a 12-year veteran of the force.
Officers lined the streets and 25,000 mourners attended from across the country.
Thousands of police and the community are getting into formation to honor and #NeverForget NYPD Police Officer Familia in the Bronx. pic.twitter.com/xAtYsYjWcJ
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) July 11, 2017
When de Blasio began to speak at Familia's funeral, some of the police officers turned their back to the mayor.
Mental illness/meds may have played a role, but evil + hate + demonization of cops are to blame for #MiosotisFamilia's killing: @NYPDONeill pic.twitter.com/f2Dgb1DTxM
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) July 11, 2017
Some cops turn backs on @NYCMayor @BilldeBlasio at NYPD's Familia funeral, reminiscent of what happened at funerals for Ramos, Liu pic.twitter.com/fwnu7vwFTI
— Matthew Chayes (@chayesmatthew) July 11, 2017
De Blasio is speaking at #MiosotisFamilia funeral. Cops have begun to turn their backs on him.
— Gloria Pazmino (@GloriaPazmino) July 11, 2017
De Blasio skipped a Saturday night vigil for Miosotis, opting to fly to Germany and deliver a speech near the G-20 summit instead.
Sergeants Benevolent Association president Ed Mullins criticized de Blasio for the move.
"Mr. Mayor, you didn't have to travel to Germany for a protest, all you had to do is speak in front of the men and women of the NYPD," Mullins said.
This is not the first time NYPD officers have turned their backs to de Blasio. In early 2015, thousands of police officers turned around when de Blasio began to speak at the funeral of officer Wenjian Liu.