Policing the Convention
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

It began Thursday, when a police officer pursuing protesters at the Plaza Hotel apparently plunged through a skylight and needed 38 stitches. At the United for Peace and Justice march on Sunday, another officer suffered a third-degree burn while attempting to extinguish a papier-mache dragon that had been set afire and rigged by protesters with smoke bombs and ball bearings. Also Sunday, a deputy inspector suffered a hyper extended elbow while policing the protesters. Monday, a mob of protesters against the Republican National Convention set upon a police officer, punching and kicking him until he was bloody and lying on the ground. Protesters also picked up metal police barricades and hurled them at the police, according to our reporter at the scene. It was a disgusting display.
New York’s police officers are putting their health and their lives at risk policing the protests of the Republican National Convention. We recognize that the majority of the protesters so far have been peaceful. As a result, there has been no shortage of praise for the protesters. But the restraint that has been shown has been on the part of the police officers, who are working long hours and putting their own safety in jeopardy this week. In the face of all too many provocations, police officers have overwhelmingly comported themselves with courtesy, professionalism, and respect.
The police are keeping the protesters and the rest of the city safe. They deserve the thanks of all New Yorkers and of those visiting the city from elsewhere. Most of the officers are union members. Many have families. They are doing their jobs. They don’t deserve to be vilified by protesters such as the one who marched in Sunday’s United for Peace and Justice march with an outrageous sign referring to the “Good Germans of the NYPD.” It is apparent to nearly everyone – even the protesters – that New York’s finest don’t deserve to be physically assaulted. They deserve to be praised for doing a fine job in tough conditions.