The New York Patrolman's Benevolent Association and the Sergeant's Benevolent Association spoke out on Tuesday about "the vile and insulting pronouncements against police officers" in connection with the death of Eric Garner, calling for the attacks to stop.

"We will defend these police officers. We will get experts in the use of force. This was not a chokehold. We will get medical examiners to go over the autopsy when it is finally released," said Patrick J. Lynch, president of the PBA. "I've never seen a document that was more political than that press release released by the ME's office, without any medical facts beyond it, without at least the medical examiner's report. That is absolutely wrong. This case, all cases should be based on the facts -- nothing more, nothing less."

Lynch was reacting to the release on Friday from the medical examiner's office, which said the manner of Eric Garner's death was homicide.

"The autopsy revealed that Garner suffered "compression of neck (choke hold), compression of chest and prone positioning during physical restraint by police," said Julie Bolcer, spokeswoman for the New York Office of Chief Medical Examiner, according to reports. Bolcer said that asthma and heart disease had also contributed to Garner's death.

Garner, a father and grandfather from Staten Island, died while police officers tried to arrest him on July 17 for selling untaxed cigarettes. Police claimed at the time Garner died of a heart attack. Video of the incident, however, shows an officer putting him in a chokehold from behind as other officer's pile on. Garner can be heard saying, "I can't breathe! I can't breathe!"

The death of Eric Garner is being looked at by many as a litmus test of the de Blasio Administration who won many black and Latino voters for his promise to do something about stop, question and frisk.

Lynch said there is an attitude on New York City streets that it is all right to resist arrest.

"That attitude is a direct result of the lack of respect for law enforcement resulting from the slanderous, insulting and unjust manner in which police officers are being portrayed by race baiters, politicians, pundits and even our elected officials. We are here today to send a message to all criminals in every community across out city that the charge of resisting arrest is a very serious and dangerous one. The charge exists to encourage those being arrested to comply with the lawful orders of police officers so those officers do not have use necessary force to make that arrest," said Lynch.

Lynch said they are advising their officers to be cautious while patrolling the city streets because since Stop, Question and Frisk law was passed and approved into law by City Hall, officers have noticed an attitude with the criminal element that resisting arrest is condoned and not taken seriously.

"New York City police officers have every right to expect to go home safely and without injury at the end of their tour. They also deserve the support of our elected officials and the citizens alike that live in our streets," said Lynch.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio hosted a roundtable prompted by the death of Eric Garner with NYPD commissioner, Bill Bratton, the Rev. Al Sharpton and black and Latino community leaders on July 31 at City Hall. At the meeting Sharpton said "Given the data that we are seeing in terms of these 'broken window' kind of operations, it's disproportionate in the black and Latino community," Sharpton said to de Blasio. "If Dante wasn't your son, he'd be a candidate for a choke hold."

Dante is the mayor's son.

At Tuesday press conference, Lynch said, "It is outrageously insulting to all police officers to say we go out on our streets to choke people of color. And for Al Sharpton to say it while seated at the table right next to our Mayor at City Hall. New York police officers have literally made neighborhoods that were unlivable, livable. It is a person's behavior that leads to the interaction with the police, not who they are, not what they look like, or how much money is in their pocket. It is that behavior that leads to that interaction. It absolutely insulting to insinuate otherwise."

Edward D. Mullins, President, Sergeant's Benevolent Association, told reporters, "Al Sharpton is not a credible individual and yet he is all over the media, front page, he is allowed to sit in City Hall and threaten."

The case is being investigated by the Staten Island District Attorney, Daniel Donovan. NYPD Commissioner Bratton has promised retraining from top to bottom.