NYPD commissioner tells officers not to turn their backs on de Blasio at Liu's funeral

NEW YORK, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton has sent a memo to officers asking they don't turn their backs to Mayor Bill de Blasio during Wenjian Liu's funeral.

"I issue no mandates, and I make no threats of discipline, but I remind you that when you don the uniform of this department, you are bound by the tradition, honor and decency that go with it," Bratton wrote.

Officers turned their backs to de Blasio during the funeral for slain officer Rafael Ramos, because they are upset he hasn't been as supportive of the NYPD as they would like. Officers Ramos and Liu were both murdered on Dec. 20.

The police turning their backs at Ramos' funeral got a lot of attention, and Bratton doesn't want the attention being taken away from honoring Liu. "It stole the valor, honor and attention that rightfully belonged to the memory of detective Rafael Ramos's life and sacrifice," the memo reads.

Bratton said he wants Liu's funeral to be about "grieving, not grievance."