#Shooter felt emboldened to open fire at NYPD cop

A culture that coddles — and emboldens — criminals led to the Christmas Eve shooting of an NYPD officer in Brooklyn, according to the head of the city’s largest police union.

The 27-year-old cop was likely saved by his bullet proof vest after being shot in the back while responding to a domestic dispute just after 9 p.m. Thursday in Crown Heights, police said.

Flanked by Mayor Bill de Blasio and other city officials at Kings County Hospital, Police Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said afterwards that the suspect had no fear of shooting at New York’s Finest.

“Why does a perp feel bold enough to shoot at a police officer? That’s the question we have to ask and we have to answer. There’s a number of reasons this is happening. Lack of support on the street, defunding the police, bail reform, lack of prosecution. That’s why this is happening,” Lynch said.

The suspect, identified as William Moss, shot the officer after his girlfriend’s mother called police to alert them that he threatened to come over and open fire, according to police sources.

The officers were talking to the younger woman when Moss arrived, shot the cop and fled, according to the sources.

Police chased Moss to nearby Prospect Place, where they fired several shots at him and took him into custody.

“When a perp has no fear to pull out a weapon to shoot a gun. Sometimes they’re not the worst perps in the world. But they’re still doing it. We have to stop saying we’re lucky. We have to stop counting our equipment. There has to be fear in the hearts of the perps that they know if they shoot at a police officer, they won’t walk the streets,” Lynch said.

The wounded officer is being treated at the hospital.

“A man threatened his girlfriend and because the NYPD was there that woman is alive right now,” de Blasio said at the hospital.

“Our officer, thank God, is going to be OK … As you saw today, the NYPD saved someone’s life,” the mayor said.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea held up the officer’s protective vest at the press conference to show where the bullet had been lodged.

A witness said he heard several gunshots while working at a restaurant on Ralph Avenue.

“We just heard the gun. Like six, seven shots,” said the man, Paul, who didn’t give his last name.

Police say they don’t know what motivated Moss to open fire.