Metro

Union chief tells cops to ‘follow the rules’ amid chokehold probe

NYPD cops are so fed up with Mayor de Blasio over the Eric Garner case that they’re threatening to work strictly by the book to protect themselves — even if it keeps them from responding to emergencies.

The head of the city sergeants union on Tuesday publicly urged cops to dot every “i” and cross every “t” amid de Blasio’s alleged lack of support for officers after Garner’s chokehold death in police custody last month..

“Going forward, for members of the NYPD, we want you to do your job and follow the rule book the way it’s written,” Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins said during a news conference in Manhattan. “If there’s a delay getting to the next place, so be it.”

He later elaborated, saying, “When a police officer responds to a scene, he should complete the job there before moving on to the next job.

“Let’s say he gets called to a burglary, then he should follow the job to its completion before responding to the second job. And if the second job is more serious, the officer might not respond there immediately, depending on what’s happening in the first job he responded to.”

At the same news conference, Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch insisted that a chokehold wasn’t used during Garner’s caught-on-video arrest, and blasted the Medical Examiner’s Office review that ruled Garner’s July 17 death a homicide.

“The document from the Medical Examiner’s Office, that is a political document not backed up by the scientific ­report,” Lynch seethed.

“This was not a chokehold. We will get medical examiners to go over this autopsy when it is finally released,” he added.

Lynch also noted that Garner “was a large man who was ­resisting arrest, he had to be brought to the ground the way we’re trained.”

And Lynch ripped de Blasio for not having cops’ backs.

“I think the mayor needs to support New York City’s police officers — unequivocally say it, and unequivocally say resisting arrest hurts everyone, police officers and citizens alike, and will not be tolerated,” Lynch said.

He also attacked the Rev. Al Sharpton, whom he called one of the “race baiters . . . whose business is to stir up the street, not make the street safe.”

De Blasio, who appeared at a Brooklyn news conference at around the same time, said he was “concerned” by Mullins’ remarks but was confident that “the rank-and-file are here to do their job and they will do their job.”

De Blasio said he had “immense respect for the men and women of the NYPD,” but added, “Every law-enforcement official, every officer, has to serve the people of this city.”

NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said, “I would expect that our officers always work by the books.”

Asked about Lynch denying that Officer Daniel Pantaleo used a chokehold on Garner, Bratton replied, “It appeared to be a chokehold, but until there is a finding of fact, we won’t know for
certain.”

The ME’s Office said the findings are based on science and it stands by them.

Meanwhile, the wife of the man who filmed the Garner-arrest video was busted Tuesday after allegedly pummeling a women who made a snide comment about the incident, sources said.

Chrissy Ortiz, 30, who’s married to Ramsey Orta, was charged with assault on Staten Island. The 35-year-old victim was treated at a hospital and released.

Orta himself was arrested on gun charges last weekend.

Additional reporting by Jamie Schram, Larry Celona,Aaron Feis