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Philly police chief: Calm the talk over NYPD killings

Ramsey was named co-chairman of President Obama's task force on policing
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey on NYPD officer killings, police tensions 02:52

The murder of the two NYPD officers has increased tension in the already rocky relationship between New York City police unions and the city's mayor, Bill de Blasio.

While civil rights leaders condemned the ambush killings and expressed fear that backlash over the bloodshed could derail protest movements that grew out of the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, Patrick Lynch, president of the Patrolman's Benevolent Association in New York, said there was "blood on the hands" of demonstrators and elected officials who have criticized police tactics.

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey said Monday on "CBS This Morning" that the snipping may have gone too far.

"I think right now everyone should just focus on the families of the two slain officers, put them away with the dignity and the respect that they certainly deserve," Ramsey said. "The rest of this can be sorted out at a later time, but right now everyone needs to lower the volume a little bit on the rhetoric because we're just in a very, very volatile environment right now."

Lynch and de Blasio have been locked in a public battle over treatment of officers following fallout after a grand jury chose not to indict the NYPD officer purportedly responsible for Eric Garner's death. Lynch suggested police officers sign a petition that demanded the mayor not attend their funerals should they die on the job.

"I think everyone needs to sit down and talk to one another and iron out whatever differences they may have," Ramsey said. "They may not agree totally on every issue but at least bring it down from where it is right now."

But Ramsey said those talks may not be able to happen right away. Video emerged showing on some of officers turning their backs on the mayor and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton at the Brooklyn hospital where the two slain officers were taken.

Ramsay said that Bratton is "one of the best police leaders in America and he will guide his department through this."

In regards to action that can be taken, Ramsay referred to his role as the co-chairman of President Obama's task force on policing.

"The president did call me yesterday and once again expressed his outrage at this senseless murder of two New York City police officers, but also to reemphasize the urgency he feels with getting this task force off the ground and coming up with concrete recommendations, pulling together police leaders from around the country, as well as community leaders from around the country, to talk about policing in the 21st century and how we're going to improve police-community relations," Ramsay said.

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