Susan Watts/New York Daily News
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton will attend the St. Patrick’s Day Parade — unlike Mayor de Blasio.
The city’s top cop is marching to a different drummer than many of his fellow officials.
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said Thursday he would participate in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
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“Yes,” he answered when reporters asked if he would take part in the March 17 tradition. He declined to elaborate .
Bratton follows in the footsteps of his predecessor, Raymond Kelly, who attended the parades and even served as grand marshal in 2010.
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Mayor de Blasio and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito have pledged to boycott the parade because of its treatment of gay groups.
The parade does not allow groups bearing signs or banners identifying them as gay or lesbian to march.
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Gay activists expressed their disappointment.
“To have someone who is in charge of the safety of this city march in a parade that is breathing hate, and saying we as LGBTQ New Yorkers cannot march openly in it, is an extremely giant step in the wrong direction,” said Eunic Ortiz, president of Stonewall Democrats.
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“We hope (Bratton) changes his mind before March 17,” Ortiz added.
Hundreds of New York’s Finest march in the annual parade.
De Blasio has said he would not bar city workers from marching with banners.
“I respect the right of city employees to make their own choices on this,” he said this week.
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