Jul 6, 2017 3 min read Central Brooklyn

After Fatal Shooting Of Bronx Officer, Pols Hold Pro-Cop Rally In Boro Park

Assembly Members Felix Ortiz and Dov Hikind, Boro Park Shomrim Liaison Jacob Daskal, City Council Member David Greenfield, Captain Wall, and CB 12 DM Barry Spitzer. (Photo by Carly Miller/BKLYNER)

Brooklyn officials held a pro-cop rally outside Brooklyn’s 66th Precinct station this morning in Boro Park, one day after the fatal shooting of Bronx police officer Miosotis Familia, to express outrage and garner support for the NYPD.

“In this community, we love the police, we respect the police, we work with the police, we have relationships with the police,” said Assembly Member Dov Hikind. “Because we understand that without the NYC police department, civilization ends.”

The rally, led by Councilmember David Greenfield and Community Board 12 District Manager Barry Spitzer, drew a crowd that included Assembly Members, clergy liaison Rabbi Bernard Freilich, Boro Park Jewish Community Council members, uniformed officers, Precinct Captain David Wall, members of Brooklyn Asian Civilian Officer Patrol (BACOP), and members of the Boro Park and Flatbush Shomrim.

“The criminal justice system needs to change,” said Rabbi Bernard Freilich. “Why are those criminals roaming the streets with such hate?” (Photo by Carly Miller/BKLYNER)

“An attack on an NYPD officer is an attack on this entire city,” Greenfield said, who mentioned his support for hiring 1,000 new cops, increased pension funding for officers, and the funding for bulletproof windows in police vehicles.

“It’s always the critics that have the loudest voices, but the silent majority loves and respects the police in this city,” he said. “We admire and respect the work of the police, and know that what you do is what makes this city great.”

Greenfield urged New Yorkers to get angry about the “cold-blooded assassination” of officer Familia, that he likened to a hate crime.

“Your blood needs to boil, as a New Yorker,” said Greenfield. “Just as how we would be outraged if someone was shot for being a Jew, for being black, or for being gay.”

Left to right: Assemblymember Dov Hikind, City Councilmember David Greenfield, 66th Precinct Captain David Wall. (Photo by Carly Miller/BKLYNER)

CB 12 District Manager Barry Spitzer advocated for people to quash “hateful rhetoric” directed toward police officers online.

“The guy who pulled the trigger is ultimately responsible but we cannot ignore that hateful rhetoric plays a part,” said Spitzer, urging people stand up to commenters who say “inflammatory or derogatory” things about cops on social media.

Greenfield spoke passionately about his outright support for NYPD officers, despite the “naysayers.”

“You do not see the good deeds a typical police officer does literally thousand of times a year,” said Greenfield. “But I assure you, that every time there’s a mistake, that gets magnified.”

“Even though it’s easy and fashionable to yell and scream and beat up on the police, you have friends in government,” he said to the crowd gathered outside the precinct doors.