Police: Mayor de Blasio Under Scrutiny After Two NYPD Officers Killed

December 21, 2014 1:17 PM EST

Several community and political leaders have criticized New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio in the wake of Saturday’s fatal ambush of two police officers.

The attack by a man identified as Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who posted on social media specifically about wanting to kill police before traveling to New York City and shooting the officers at close range, arrives at the end of months of rising tension between de Blasio and the city’s police force.

Police union leaders have already criticized de Blasio’s lack of support for city police officers, who have been the subject of increased scrutiny after a grand jury declined to indict a white cop in the chokehold-related death of Staten Island man Eric Garner. The grand jury decision was issued around the same time that police shot and killed an unarmed black man, Akai Gurley, in a darkened stairwell in Brooklyn.

Witness the Aftermath of Police Shooting in Brooklyn

Brooklyn New York Police Shooting Bed Stuy — The skyline of Manhattan is seen in the background as investigators work at the scene where two NYPD officers were shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Dec. 20, 2014 John Minchillo—AP

NY police salute fallen comrades — Police pay their respect outside Woodhull Hospital as two Police ambulances carrying the bodies of two murdered officers head to Bellevue Hospital in New York City, Dec. 20, 2014. Paul Martinka—Polaris

A man leaves flowers at an impromptu memorial near the site where two police officers were killed the day before in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Dec. 21, 2014. — A man leaves flowers at an impromptu memorial near the site where two police officers were killed the day before in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Dec. 21, 2014. Seth Wenig—AP

Marie Jean-Baptiste — New York City police officer Darren Cox, right, accompanied by fellow officers, leaves flowers at a memorial in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on Dec. 21, 2014.Mark Lennihan—AP

Donna Salvaggio and a woman who gave her name as Reverend Jordan hug at a makeshift memorial at the site where two police officers were shot in the head in the Brooklyn borough of New York — Donna Salvaggio (L) and a woman who gave her name as Reverend Jordan hug at a makeshift memorial at the site where two police officers were shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Dec. 21, 2014. Carlo Allegri—Reuters

A man takes part in a prayer vigil at the site where two police officers were shot in the head in the Brooklyn borough of New York — A man takes part in a prayer vigil at the site where two police officers were fatally shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Dec. 21, 2014. Carlo Allegri—Reuters

Mourners take part in prayer vigil at site where two police officers were fatally shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York — Mourners take part in a prayer vigil at the site where two police officers were fatally shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Dec. 21, 2014. Stephanie Keith—Reuters

APTOPIX Pistons Nets Basketball NYPD Officers Shot — New York Police Department officers Mark Cava, left, and Jason Muller participate in a moment of silence for two slain NYPD officers before an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Detroit Pistons in New York City on Dec. 21, 2014.Jason DeCrow—AP

Pistons Nets Basketball NYPD Officers Shot — New York Police Department officer Jason Muller salutes during the national anthem after participating in a moment of silence for two slain NYPD officers before an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Detroit Pistons in New York City on Dec. 21, 2014.Jason DeCrow—AP

A woman recites from Bible while standing over makeshift memorial during prayer vigil at the site where two NYPD officers were fatally shot in Brooklyn borough of New York — A woman recites from a Bible while standing over a makeshift memorial during a prayer vigil at the site where two New York Police Department (NYPD) officers were fatally shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Dec. 21, 2014. Stephanie Keith—Reuters

Vigil for slain police — Mourners take part in a prayer vigil at the site where two police officers were fatally shot in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, Dec. 21, 2014. Stephen Shames—Polaris

Nationally, protests against racial profiling and excessive police force have centered around the rallying cry #BlackLivesMatter, taking place in malls, football stadiums and on the streets of major cities like Los Angeles; Atlanta; Chicago; Oakland, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. The protests have primarily focused on Garner and Michael Brown, the unarmed black teen shot and killed in Ferguson, Mo., in August, as well as 12-year-old Tamir Rice, who was shot and killed in November by Cleveland police who thought his toy gun was real.

De Blasio has previously expressed sympathy for the Garner family, and has called for “an honest conversation in this country about a history of racism.”

During a news conference on Saturday, the mayor stressed the importance of police and expressed outrage at the afternoon attack. “We depend on our police to protect us against forces of criminality and evil,” he said. “They are a foundation of our society, and when they are attacked, it is an attack on the very concept of decency.”

Police said Brinsley shot his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore before traveling to New York City on Saturday, killing officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, who were sitting in a squad car, and then turning the gun on himself.

The tension between police officers and de Blasio was visible during the news conference, as several officers turned their backs to de Blasio when he entered the room. Days before the ambush, union leaders had circulated a letter in which officers may request that de Blasio not attend their funerals if they die on duty.

The Sergeants Benevolent Association, a union of NYPD officers who have heavily criticized de Blasio since Garner’s death in July, said:

The blood of 2 executed police officers is on the hands of Mayor de Blasio. May God bless their families and may they rest in peace.
— SBA (@SBANYPD_Archive) December 21, 2014

George Pataki, former Republican governor of New York, wrote:

Sickened by these barbaric acts, which sadly are a predictable outcome of divisive anti-cop rhetoric of #ericholder & #mayordeblasio. #NYPD
— George E. Pataki (@GovernorPataki) December 21, 2014

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Sunday in a Fox News interview:

It is the right time to talk about [de Blasio’s] policies. His policies of allowing protests to get out of control, and of his not emphasizing enough the importance of fatherhood, the importance of education, the importance of an alternative to a public education system that is failing the black children.

Former U.S. Senator from Massachusetts Scott Brown wrote on Facebook:

I am angry that there are public figures/elected officials who are contributing to the racial tension. Sad that we do not have a leader or leaders who want to unite our country and that people don’t see through their efforts to divide us.

Community leader the Rev. Al Sharpton, who has organized rallies protesting the nonindictments in the Garner and Brown cases, said in a statement:

Any use of the names of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, in connection with any violence or killing of police, is reprehensible and against the pursuit of justice in both cases. We have stressed at every rally and march that anyone engaged in any violence is an enemy to the pursuit of justice for Eric Garner and Michael Brown.

Mayor Bill de Blasio Under Scrutiny After 2 NYPD Officers Killed

Witness the Aftermath of Police Shooting in Brooklyn

More Must-Reads from TIME