New York Mayor and Police Commissioner Reprimand Police

De Blasio says police were disrespectful to slain officer's family

New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton speaks at a news conference at police headquarters to announce new figures on decreasing crime and violence January 5, 2015 in New York City. On Sunday, police officers defied Bratton by turning their backs on the mayor once again during his speech at the funeral for an officer fatally shot last month with his partner in Brooklyn. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner William Bratton reprimanded police for turning their backs on Sunday during a funeral service and explained the citywide drop in arrests during a press conference Monday at One Police Plaza.

The thousands of police officers who turned their backs on a broadcast of the mayor’s funeral remarks outside the funeral service for slain officer Wenjian Liu Sunday were “disrespectful” to the victim’s family, said de Blasio.

“I can’t understand why people would behave like that,” he added.

New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton called it a selfish move that came after he already called for police not to turn their backs in a memo last week.

I can't understand why people would behave like that.

— Mayor Bill de Blasio