Denver’s mayor and police chief each expressed shock and sadness Sunday over the shooting deaths of two police officers in an ambush-style attack in New York City over the weekend.
“Our family and city joins the entire nation in praying for the families of these two dedicated NYPD officers whose lives were ended through this unspeakable act of violence,” Mayor Michael Hancock said through a spokeswoman.
Denver Police Chief Robert White said his “thoughts and prayers” go out to the slain officers, Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, and their families.
The Denver Police Department also weighed in after news broke that a police officer in Florida had been killed in the line of duty Sunday morning, tweeting “our deepest sympathies” to the Tarpon Springs Police Department.
In Larimer County, Sheriff Justin Smith took a harder line, joining a growing chorus of critics who claim that recent gatherings in protest of police violence have created an atmosphere that condones vengeful acts like the one perpetrated in New York.
In a Facebook post Sunday afternoon, Smith said “societal agitators” who work “endlessly behind the scenes to sow seeds of distrust and hatred between communities and their police officers” helped pave the way for Saturday’s shooting.
“Their ultimate goal is to break down the bonds that hold us together as Americans and to destroy the rule of law as we know it,” the sheriff wrote. “Oftentimes, they do this under the mantra of promoting social justice.”
Ramos and Liu were shot Saturday afternoon as they sat in a patrol car in Brooklyn. The man accused of shooting them killed himself shortly thereafter in a nearby subway station.
The gunman, identified as 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, had posted messages on social media stating that he was angry about the recent deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police.
Ben Sanders, a student at the Iliff School of Theology who has helped organize local protests against the killing of unarmed black men by police earlier this year, said trying to link peaceful protests to the murders of the officers in New York is “really, really ridiculous.”
“The moves being made to tie nonviolent civil disobedience to the heinous and vicious murders of two innocent police officers is really unhelpful in the effort to improve relationships between the community and law enforcement,” Sanders said.
He said it’s important that both sides in the debate “avoid broad sweeping statements.”
Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson wouldn’t say Sunday if his department is taking any specific measures to improve officer safety in the wake of the shootings in New York City.
“We’re not going to talk specifics,” Jackson said. “But we are closely monitoring the situation in New York. It’s a matter that’s very concerning to all.”
Nick Rogers, president of the Denver Police Protective Association, said he has been “disappointed” in what he says so far has been a lack of safety protocols put in place by the department.
“I’d like to see the chief come out and say to the officers that their safety is the No. 1 priority,” he said. “This is a form of domestic terrorism.”
John Aguilar: 303-954-1695, jaguilar@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abuvthefold
