Patrolmen's Benevolent Association president Patrick Lynch screamed to his members. But our salaries are down . . . They have an obligation to repay us. It's very hypocritical. I can't give people everything they want.
Crowd estimates for the two-hour protest ranged wildly.
Police officials first said there were about 7,000 protesters, then changed it to 4,500. PBA officials put the figure between 12,000 and 15,000. While the rally broke up peacefully around 1 p.m., as many as 500 police supervisors were on hand at City Hall to make sure thing stayed calm. One of them was Chief Allan Hoehl of the Manhattan South patrol bureau, who ordered police to pull over a truck and ticket the driver who tapped his horn in a show of support as he drove down Broadway near the rally. I'm a union guy.