New York City voters, black, white and Hispanic, disapprove 69 – 27 percent of police officers turning their backs on Mayor Bill de Blasio at funerals for two police officers, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Police union leader Patrick Lynch’s comments that the mayor’s office had blood on its hands are “too extreme,” voters say 77 – 17 percent, the independent Quinnipiac University Poll finds. There is no party, gender, racial, borough or age group which finds the comments “appropriate.”

With a big racial division, voters say 47 – 37 percent that Mayor de Blasio’s statements and actions during his 2013 campaign and during his first year in office show he does support police. The mayor supports police, black voters say 69 – 19 percent and Hispanic voters say 53 – 33 percent, while white voters say 49 – 36 percent he does not support police.

Police discipline has broken down, voters say 52 – 38 percent, but voters say 62 – 20 percent that Police Commissioner William Bratton can restore or maintain discipline.

Voters approve 56 – 31 percent of the job Commissioner Bratton is doing, up from 44 – 39 percent in a December 17 Quinnipiac University poll and his highest approval since a 57 – 19 percent score June 12, 2014. Black, white and Hispanic voters all approve.

“Cops turning their backs on their boss, Mayor Bill de Blasio, is unacceptable, New Yorkers say by large margins. Even cop-friendly Staten Island gives that rude gesture only a split decision,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Assistant Director Maurice Carroll.

“Comments by the PBA’s Patrick Lynch that Mayor de Blasio has ‘blood on his hands’ are condemned by white, black and Hispanic voters alike.”

“Maybe it’s sympathy for a guy in a tough position, a commissioner leading a defiant department, but Commissioner William Bratton’s job approval numbers jump up,” Carroll added. “Voters think misbehaving cops should be punished and they fear that discipline in the department has broken down, but they believe Commissioner Bratton can straighten things out.”

New York City voters approve 56 – 37 percent of the job police citywide are doing, compared to 51 – 41 percent December 17. Approval today is 66 – 28 percent among white voters and 54 – 36 percent among Hispanic voters, while black voters disapprove 54 – 41 percent. Voters approve 71 – 25 percent of the job police in their community are doing.

The recent slowdown in police activity is more of a protest, 56 percent of voters say, while 27 percent say it is because police officers fear for their safety.

Voters say 57 – 34 percent that officers should be disciplined if they deliberately are making fewer arrests or writing fewer tickets. Black, white and Hispanic voters all agree. Lynch and Sharpton

Voters give Patrolmen’s Benevolent Assn. President Patrick Lynch a negative 18 – 39 percent favorability rating and say 43 – 27 percent that he is a mostly negative force in the city.

Rev. Al Sharpton gets a negative 29 – 53 percent favorability, his lowest score ever, and voters say 51 – 37 percent that he is a mostly negative force in the city, also his worst score.

Rev. Sharpton has too much influence with Mayor de Blasio, 37 percent of voters say, while 8 percent say he has too little influence and 34 percent say his influence is about right.

“It’s an incongruous pairing, but Lynch and Rev. Al Sharpton, the outspoken police critic, share in the negative judgments of New Yorkers,” Carroll said.

Relations between Mayor de Blasio and the police are “generally bad,” voters say 77 – 15 percent. Of those who say “bad,” 45 percent of voters say de Blasio is to blame, while 43 percent blame police. White voters blame de Blasio 61 – 30 percent and black voters blame police 69 – 16 percent. Hispanic voters are divided with 45 percent blaming the mayor and 42 percent blaming police.

From January 7 – 14, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,182 New York City voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Colorado and the nation as a public service and for research.

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