Police deaths not fault of NYC Mayor, says former mayor

A day after two New York City policemen were brutally murdered in a broad-daylight ambush, former mayor Rudolph Giuliani said that pointing fingers and assigning blame, particularly against the current mayor, is not helping an already tenuous situation in the city.

"Stop this stuff with 'the blood is on his hands.' The blood is not on his hands," Giuliani told CBS New York, referring to remarks made by Patrolmen's Benevolent Association president Pat Lynch after the deaths of officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, who were shot to death by 28-year-old gunman Ismaaiyl Brinsley while they sat in a patrol car in Brooklyn Saturday afternoon.

"I don't think the mayor is responsible for this. I think that's an incorrect and incendiary charge," he said. "I do think he should change some of his policies."

Lynch's remarks were one of several hurled at New York's mayor Bill de Blasio, who he has accused of siding with protesters in the wake of grand jury decisions not to indict Eric Garner and Michael Brown, which spurred ongoing nationwide protests.

"Those that incited violence on the streets under the guise of protest that tried to tear down what New York City police officers did every day. We tried to warn it must not go on, it cannot be tolerated," Lynch said. "That blood on the hands starts at City Hall in the office of the mayor."

Following those comments were those of former New York Gov. George Pataki who tweeted: "Sickened by these barbaric acts, which sadly are a predictable outcome of divisive anti-cop rhetoric of #ericholder & #mayordeblasio. #NYPD"

Also, another union, the Sergeants Benevolent Association also blamed de Blasio for the violence, tweeting: "The blood of 2 executed police officers is on the hands of Mayor de Blasio. May God bless their families and may they rest in peace."

Giuliani, who served as mayor from 1994 to 2001, was critical of de Blasio saying demonstrators were allowed too much leverage as they protested. In several instances, they blocked streets, held up traffic on roadways and even to tunnels.

"The protesters should not have been allowed to take over streets the way they did. This is what we learned with Crown Heights, and it seems like we've unlearned it," said Giuliani, referring to social unrest in a Brooklyn neighborhood in 1991.

However, during an appearance on Fox News on Sunday, Giuliani did take aim at President Obama for what he felt was too much lenience toward demonstrators. "We've had four months of propaganda starting with the president that everybody should hate the police," Giuliani said.

The gunman, Brinsley allegedly left social media messages threatening violence against policemen before carrying out those threats. Investigators said Brinsley was in New York a week ago and are looking into whether he was involved in any demonstrations. However, he is believed to have acted alone.

Giuliani said de Blasio should let police take charge of protests and support the officers more.

"And if he does that, if he has a balanced approached to this he will win the police back. In any event the police should respect him," he said.