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Former NYPD Chief Blames Ferguson Narrative For Police Shooting

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

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Amber Randall Civil Rights Reporter
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The former New York Police Department commissioner blamed the “fake news” that came out of the Ferguson, Mo., riots on the recent death of a New York police officer Sunday.

Howard Safir, who served as commissioner for four years, linked the shooting of NYPD Officer Miosotis Familia to the anti-police rhetoric that came out of the fatal shooting of Michael Brown during a radio interview.

“Ever since Ferguson, which turned out to be totally bogus fake news about what Michael Brown did or did not do and what the officer did there has been an atmosphere in the country where police departments and police officers are attacked constantly,” Safir told radio host John Catsimatidis. “The truth is police officers put their lives on the line every day.”

Alexander Bonds shot Familia while she sat in her squad car guarding a neighborhood July 5. Bonds reportedly expressed anti-police sentiments on his Facebook page. (RELATED: New York Cop Assassinated In ‘Unprovoked Attack’)

“The atmosphere was created and continues to be created by the media. I believe it led this perpetrator to literally execute a police officer who was out there doing her job,” Safir continued. “As long as this atmosphere prevails about police being brutal and racist and involved in misconduct, we are going to continue to embolden criminals to go after, not only police, but after citizens.”

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