By Stephen Witt (Special from Our Time Press)
In the immediate aftermath of the execution-style shooting death of Police Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos at the intersection of Tompkins and Myrtle avenues, Borough President Eric Adams called on Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Union President Pat Lynch to talk to each other and not at each other.
Adams also called for those responsible people that have peacefully protesting for police and judicial reforms to call off any demonstrations until the two officers are buried so people have tome to grieve and out of respect for the two.
Adams comments came on a Sunday morning press conference at the memorial where the officers were slain at the Tompkins and Myrtle avenues intersection in Bedford-Stuyvesant.
“When they (cops) go home and take off the uniform, they too are very much part of the community,” said Adams, a former police officer. “I want to send a clear and loud message that what happened yesterday was a strike at public safety and the things we hold dear.”
Adams, in a remark aimed perhaps at Lynch, who said the blood from the killings was on the hands of de Blasio, said the blood was only on the hands of one individual – the sick mind that took the lives of two innocent people.
City Council Member Robert Cornegy, who represents the area where Liu and Ramos were shot, noted on his Facebook page that Brinsley was neither from the community nor did he represent it.
“Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were public servants, in the line of duty. They have loving families who must now grieve their loss during this holiday season and forever. This inexcusable killing leaves me raw and in deep mourning and I wholly condemn it. Let all the people of BedStuy, central Brooklyn, NYC and beyond surround these officers’ families with our love and support and may they rest in peace,” Cornegy posted.
Local residents of the area also offered up their views on both the slayings and the relationship between the NYPD and the black community, in which police are mandated to serve and protect along with every other part of the city.
“People’s lives are lost and it’s a sad time in both cases,” said one local resident who identified herself as Akilah as she laid flowers on the makeshift memorial where Liu and Ramos were ambushed. “If this was a retaliation to the past injustices, it’s still lives are lost whether it’s black on black or police on black. People taking away lives like this as if it’s nothing. These people (Liu and Ramos) are innocent. They belonged to the police force, but they aren’t specific individuals that participated in crimes. So no one should lose their lives. These were innocent people who were fathers and family members. This is wrong.”
Nirmala Maloney, who has lived in the neighborhood for years on Tompkins Avenue, said the collective mood was very mixed.
“What most people think is that life matters. Not just black life like Eric Garner, but these police officers who died, too,” said Maloney. “I understand the frustration of the people, but I just worry that any other idiot or other people might get strength out of this and come out here and do the same thing (shoot another cop). Who’s going to come out here and protect us, now?”
