Response To Open Letter By PBA President Patrick J. Lynch On Behalf Of James Blake

CHATHAM, N.J., Sept. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Earlier today, New York PBA President Patrick Lynch issued an open letter to all those, including the Editorial Board of The New York Times, who have expressed horror and outrage at New York police officer James Frascatore's violent attack upon former tennis star James Blake, as clearly depicted in a video released by the NYPD last Friday and beamed around the world.  In that letter, Mr. Lynch reminds his readers of the dangers of police work; argues that only those who have themselves faced such dangers—i.e., other police officers—are qualified to judge a police officer's conduct; speculates that Mr. Frascatore's assault on the innocent Mr. Blake might somehow be explained by "mitigating circumstances" not captured on the "silent video" depicting that assault; and concludes by noting, without apparent irony, that Americans should withhold judgment of Mr. Frascatore because "due process is the American way of obtaining justice."

This is far worse than nonsense.  Mr. Lynch is charged with responsibility for representing all members of the NYPD, the vast majority of whom serve and defend the public with honor and integrity.  In attempting to justify Mr. Frascatore's indefensible conduct by reference to the risks and rigors of police work, Mr. Lynch badly disserves himself and the many honorable officers he is sworn to represent—all of whom have themselves been tarnished by that conduct.  Nothing about Mr. Frascatore's terrifying interaction with James Blake bore any resemblance to due process of law—much less to the ideals of truth, justice, and the American way Mr. Lynch so blithely invokes.

Police officers have difficult and dangerous work to do, but the law requires that they do it in an objectively reasonable fashion.  Mr. Frascatore and the small but visible minority of police officers who share his distorted view of their role in society do not meet that standard.  Judging by his letter and his other public pronouncements in the days since the Blake incident, neither does Mr. Lynch. 

CONTACT: Kevin H. Marino, Esq., Marino, Tortorella & Boyle, P.C., 437 Southern Boulevard, Chatham, NJ 07928, [email protected], Phone (973) 824-9300

SOURCE Marino, Tortorella & Boyle, P.C.