New York City Police Union Declares ‘War’ On Mayor In Wake of Attempted Police Assassinations

The shooter, later identified as 44-year-old Robert Williams, was previously convicted of attempted murder following a 2002 shootout with police, the New York Post reported.

At approximately 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Williams approached a marked NYPD van near Fox Street and East 163rd, according to the New York Post.

He asked the two officers for directions then opened fire on them, hitting 31-year-old NYPD Officer Paul Stroffolino in the chin and neck.

His partner, Officer Brian Hanlon, hit the accelerator, allowing them to escape further attack, WNBC reported.

Officer Stroffolino was rushed to a local hospital, and is expected to recover from his wounds.

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said that the bullet narrowly missed the officer’s carotid artery, the New York Post reported.

At approximately 8 a.m. on Sunday, Williams stormed into the 41st Precinct station where the effort to locate him was being coordinated and opened fire, WNBC reported.

He was armed with a 9mm SIG Sauer handgun, according to the New York Post.

NYPD Lieutenant Jose Gautreaux, who was hit in the arm by one of the gunman’s bullets, returned fire during the attack, but the shooter wasn’t hit, WNBC reported.

Williams tossed his gun to the floor and surrendered when he ran out of ammunition, according to the New York Post.

The wounded lieutenant is expected to recover.

“Police are being targeted. The anti cop tone infecting our city & state is causing bloodshed,” the SBA tweeted shortly after the second attack. “Before any public official sends their thoughts & prayers, they should ask themselves how the language & behavior they’ve been tolerating has contributed to violence against police.”

De Blasio took to Twitter with his thoughts within hours.

“It was a quiet Sunday morning when bullets started flying inside the 41st Precinct,” the mayor wrote. “Our officers handled it with heroism and extraordinary skill, showing the true caliber of the men and women who serve in the NYPD. Thank God our officers are alive.”

“This was a premeditated assassination attempt against New York’s Finest. It was also an attack on ALL New Yorkers and everything we believe in,” the mayor declared. “This MUST be a city where everyone can live in peace and respect. This individual attempted to destroy that. We will not let him win.”

The SBA subsequently declared “war” on the mayor in a scathing tweet.

“Mayor DeBlasio, the members of the NYPD are declaring war on you!” the message read. “We do not respect you, DO NOT visit us in hospitals. You sold the NYPD to the vile creatures, the 1% who hate cops but vote for you. NYPD cops have been assassinated because of you. This isn’t over, Game on!”

It is unclear how the SBA plans to proceed after making its declaration.

De Blasio’s soft-on-crime policies and growing tensions between the city’s police force and elected officials has been further exacerbated by anti-police protests, WNBC reported.

Officers have been repeatedly doused with water and attacked with bottles, bricks, food and other items for months.

“These things are not unrelated. We had people marching through the streets of New York City recently,” Commissioner Shea said, according to WNBC. “Words matter. And words affect people’s behavior.”

Despite his declarations that attacks on police are “not acceptable,” de Blasio has ushered in a slew of polices that critics believe have both “coddled and emboldened criminals.

NYPD Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Pat Lynch blasted city officials who have repeatedly stood before the community at press conferences to express how “lucky” and miraculous it was that no officers were killed in various attacks.