In recent weeks, NYPD police officers and union officials have alleged that Mayor Bill de Blasio doesn't support police, turned their backs on him during public appearances, and instigated a work slowdown to signal their upset and disapproval. Mayor de Blasio has done nothing to justify this antagonism, I've maintained, arguing that the NYPD's insubordination is most accurately viewed as a theatrical public relations tactic by a public employee union seeking leverage in contract negotiations.

As right-leaning web sites like National Review and City Journal abandoned their usual skepticism of public employee unions and backed police officers, I worried that the police union's implied threat—give us our way or lose civilian control—would work. I worried New Yorkers would punish Mayor de Blasio for losing control, rather than backing him to insist that the NYPD is subservient to the people.

I didn't give New Yorkers enough credit.

A new poll by Quinnipiac University suggests that the city's voters have seen through the police union's tactics, and that its temper tantrum will cost it political support.

Consider the following findings: