Families of slain NYPD police officers honored at Mets game
The families of two slain New York City police officers threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Mets’ home opener at Citi Field on Monday and were joined by Mayor Bill de Blasio at a time when his relationship with the police department is again coming under scrutiny.
De Blasio’s relations with the police unions and some rank-and-file officers were fractured in the aftermath of the December shooting that claimed the lives of Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. Since that crisis, which threatened to overwhelm the mayor’s agenda, de Blasio has taken pains to repair relations with the nation’s largest police force, brokering a new union contract, investing in new technology and training, and doubling down on his public praise of the department.
On Monday, he joined the tens of thousands of fans in cheering as the officers’ images were displayed on the park’s giant video screens and again when Ramos’ two sons and Liu’s widow threw out the pitches to Mets players David Wright, Matt Harvey and Curtis Granderson.