WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Eric Holder is condemning the shooting deaths of two New York City police officers as senseless and an “unspeakable act of barbarism.”
The officers were shot Saturday in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. Authorities say the gunman later killed himself.
In a statement Saturday night, Holder calls the attack “cowardly” and says it underscores the dangers that are routinely faced by those who protect and serve their fellow citizens.
Holder praises law enforcement officers as courageous men and women who routinely incur tremendous personal risks, and place their lives on the line every day to preserve public safety. He says all Americans are forever in their debt.
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Holder’s full statement:
I condemn this afternoon’s senseless shooting of two New York City police officers in the strongest possible terms. This was an unspeakable act of barbarism, and I was deeply saddened to hear of the loss of these two brave officers in the line of duty.
On behalf of all those who serve in the United States Department of Justice, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the officers’ loved ones and colleagues. I will make available all of the resources of the Department to aid the NYPD in investigating this tragedy.
This cowardly attack underscores the dangers that are routinely faced by those who protect and serve their fellow citizens. As a nation we must not forget this as we discuss the events of the recent past. These courageous men and women routinely incur tremendous personal risks, and place their lives on the line each and every day, in order to preserve public safety. We are forever in their debt.
Our nation must always honor the valor — and the sacrifices — of all law enforcement officers with a steadfast commitment to keeping them safe. This means forging closer bonds between officers and the communities they serve, so that public safety is not a cause that is served by a courageous few, but a promise that’s fulfilled by police officials and citizens working side by side.
Holder is all talk. He may whine about “unspeakable acts of barbarism”, but he prosecuted none of the unspeakable acts of barbarism committed by the Bush administration, and he was too concerned about his employment prospects after he leaves government to prosecute any of the outright theft of trillions of dollars by Wall Street. So who gives a shit what Holder has to say?
That is remarkably meandering and has absolutely nothing to do with the situation at bar.
“[B]ut he prosecuted none of the unspeakable acts of barbarism committed by the Bush administration” – do you honestly think that decision was left to Holder? What silly LEGO world do you inhabit?
But I thought Holder was supposed to be some racist piece of trash? And what about Sharpton?!! And Jackson!!!
I think we all know who the real racists are.
There seems to be a bit of balance lacking in Holder’s concern. These cops were killed by one singular crazed man and that isn’t barbaric, it’s a crazy person’s thinking put into action. The black men that have been slaughtered are killed by a group of trained professionals that know better.
Great point. Holder’s comment is necessary but well said this was one crazy man with mental issues who shot and wounded his girl friend first then went & cowardly killed these brave officers in the line of duty then killed himself too. This is not a sane individual, even the Colorado killer was sane enough not to kill himself.
If anybody has blood on their hands in this it’s NRA for fighting Obama tooth & nail on tougher background checks for mentally unstable people.
Sure, cops are brave & should not be killed in the line of duty for putting their lives on the line but neither should unarmed 12 YO and numerous unarmed black teens.
There needs to be better training & some accountability when cops jump the gun too.