Gov. Cuomo effusively praised Ray Kelly as a “gifted leader” on Sunday and said the outgoing police commissioner was right when he described some politicians as full of “s–t” in an interview.
“To the extent the police commissioner suggested some people are not genuine in life, I think that’s true,” Cuomo said during an event at LaGuardia airport.
“I don’t think all people are. But are there people who are not genuine? Yes. We can all choose our own verbiage to express that,” the governor said.
In a bombshell Playboy interview last week, Kelly blasted the Democratic mayoral candidates as hypocrites for demonizing him over the NYPD’s stop and frisk policy. He didn’t mention names, but he was obviously referring to Mayor-elected de Blasio, Bill Thompson and Christine Quinn.
“They all claimed to be my friend — up until their mayoral campaigns. I resented it. I had a long, distinguished career. It just goes to show what some politicians will do. They’ll say or do anything to get elected,” Kelly said.
When Kelly was asked if the pols were “full of s–t,” he answered, “absolutely.”
For his part, de Blasio — who made it clear he would replace Kelly — was concerned enough about the top cop’s criticism that he reached out to him to “clear the air.”
Cuomo on Sunday agreed with Kelly generally, but stopped short of mentioning names — including his pal de Blasio.
The governor lauded Kelly’s public service and noted the two have worked together for many years, including when they both served in the Clinton administration.
“Ray Kelly is a truly extraordinary public servant who has served this nation, this city and state extraordinarily well. He will be sorely missed,” Cuomo said.
“He is a gifted leader and he used his gifts in public service,” said Cuomo, noting that the ex-Marine, who is the longest serving Big Apple police commissioner, could have made a fortune and lived a more comfortable existence working in the private sector.
“He could have had many more weekends off in his life. But he chose to do public service and the city and state are better for it. Ray Kelly’s career is going to be one of the finest, most distinguished public service careers that we’ve seen.”
Cuomo suggested that Kelly’s record will withstand the test of history. Perhaps alluding to the controversy over stop and frisk, he said the police commissioner -– like the governor — has to make “hundreds of policy decisions” and that “many of them are tough calls.”
“I’m sure not everyone agrees with every decision I’ve made. And I think that’s true for anyone in these positions,” he said.