It's largely back to business for Mayor Bill de Blasio after making the bombshell announcement Tuesday that Police Commissioner Bill Bratton is leaving after 32 months on the job. Bratton appeared with the mayor at a bill-signing ceremony Wednesday while police union members returned to protesting the mayor outside the Y in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where he works out. Our Grace Rauh has the story.
Less than 24 hours after dropping the news that Police Commissioner Bill Bratton is leaving next month, the mayor and the city's top cop appeared once again together.
"We have a group of bills that improve transparency at the NYPD and the Department of Probation," Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
The legislation the mayor signed Wednesday requires the police department to issue regular reports on encounters in which officers use force.
"Our use of force in every other category, we believe, is below the national average, but will now have transparency and intimacy very similar to what we’ve have with firearms for many, many decades available for all to see," Police Commissioner William Bratton said.
There was no mention of Bratton's plans to leave, but earlier in the day, he spoke about his departure.
"The mayor picked the right guy for the right time: Jimmy O'Neill, my number two," Bratton said.
Police union members protesting outside the mayor's gym in Park Slope, meanwhile, had kind words for the outgoing police commissioner and the man replacing him, Chief of Department James O'Neill.
"We're grateful to Police Commissioner Bratton for the time he spent here helping us solve problems, not only for our members but for the public, keeping the city's streets safe," said Pat Lynch, president of the Patrolman's Benevolent Association. "We also look forward to working with Chief O'Neill, now Commissioner O'Neill. He has a good reputation. Came up through the ranks. We've always had good dialogue. We look forward to continuing that."
Even the mayor's potential political challengers put a positive spin on the leadership change at the NYPD.
"I am going to remain optimistic that they can continue to reduce crime as we see here in the Bronx, and to do so with minimal strain on police-community relations, and less and less police harassment and brutality," said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. "And only time will tell. "
De Blasio is up for re-election next year, and policing issues have proven particularly challenging for him. The question is how he handles them without Bratton by his side.