Wounded NYPD Officer Aliro Pellerano shakes the hand of a fellow officer as he is released from St. Barnabas Hospital. Robert Miller
Shot cop Aliro Pellerano waved from a wheelchair and shook hands with well-wishers upon his release from St. Barnabas Hospital Wednesday afternoon — as the head of the NYPD’s largest union demanded that Mayor Bill de Blasio apologize for creating a “dangerous atmosphere” for cops.
Scores of uniformed cops lined the sidewalk and applauded as Pellerano was wheeled past with family members shortly after 2 p.m.
Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch — who has accused de Blasio of throwing cops “under the bus” with a lack of support — was among those on hand to greet the wounded cop.
Lynch later told reporters that de Blasio “needs to apologize to New York City police officers,” saying Hizzoner “supported those demonstrators, demonstrators that are calling for the death of cops, that created the atmosphere that New York City cops have to work in now.”
“It’s a dangerous atmosphere. We don’t want any more cops shot. We need to come together, but we need a mayor to lead us there,” Lynch said.
Lynch’s comments came little more than an hour before he and other NYPD union chiefs were set to meet with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton at police headquarters.
Bratton scheduled the sit-down in the wake of last week’s failed summit between de Blasio and the union leaders, which the mayor requested in a bid to ease tensions between City Hall and the rank and file.
But de Blasio showed up without an agenda and didn’t apologize for what cops have called his divisive rhetoric over the police chokehold death of Eric Garner, sources have said.
Pellerano and fellow cop Andrew Dossi were shot and wounded Monday night while investigating a Bronx bodega robbery.
Jason Polanco allegedly opened fire with a .44 Magnum revolver from inside a Chinese restaurant as Pellerano and Dossi questioned Joshua Kemp, who the NYPD said helped Polanco hold up the Welcome 2 Yemen deli moments earlier.
Polanco — who’s posted anti-cop pictures and rants on Instagram — and Kemp are both expected to be arraigned later Wednesday in Bronx Criminal Court.
Dossi, whose left forearm was shattered and was nearly paralyzed by a bullet that struck him in the back, is expected to remain hospitalized at least two weeks.