Ed Mullins, president of the 11,000-member New York City Sergeants Benevolent Association, issued a statement today slamming GOP/Conservative gubernatorial designee Rick Lazio for using “graphic” 9/11 images in a campaign ad.

Mullins said he was “appalled” by Lazio’s decision to employ the footage, noting four active members of the SBA – Sgts. John Coughlin, Michael Curtin, Rodney Gillis and Timothy Roy – were killed while responding to the attack on the Twin Towers nine years ago.

“It is both outrageous and offensive that Rick Lazio has chosen to exploit the tragedy of 9/11 by using graphic images from that day in his campaign,” said Mullins.

“For someone whose argument against the mosque is that it is insensitive to those who lost loved ones on that day, it is unconscionable that he would display similar insensitivity by evoking these painful memories for his own political purposes.”

“I believe his actions are as irresponsible as they are reprehensible, and would hope that he do the right thing and apologize for using this footage to promote his campaign.”

This comes on the heels of the state Democratic Party’s call for Lazio to follow the lead of Missouri Rep. Roy Blunt, who is running for the US Senate, and take down the ads (one of which is not his, but the state Conservative Party’s).

As far as I know, the SBA has not yet endorsed AG Andrew Cuomo for governor, but it certainly seems they’re leaning in that direction, since they’re being employed in a surrogate role to slam Lazio.

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