NY police union leader well known for his bite

NEW YORK - Theatrics aren't new for the head of the nation's largest police union.

But an ongoing war of words with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (dih BLAH'-zee-oh) in the past few weeks is a notch up even for Patrick Lynch.

The leader of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association says the New York Police Department is facing an unprecedented lack of support from de Blasio's administration. He says that's why he's taking on de Blasio.

The two have traded barbs since a grand jury's decision not to indict a white policeman in the chokehold death of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man whose confrontation with police was videotaped.

Lynch's critics say he's taking "cheap shots" at the Democratic first-term mayor to forward his own agenda during a trying time for the rank-and-file.

De Blasio has called Lynch's comments divisive.