Despite talk of police boycotts and epithets directed his way, The Boss dove right into his controversial – though yet unreleased – “American Skin (41 Shots)” about 30 minutes into the sold-out opener of a 10-night stand at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 12.

There was little evidence of a concerted boycott outside the arena, and boos were indistinguishable from cheers of “Bruuuuce” inside, according to published reports.

“It’s not a big deal. People blow things up,” Natalie Carbone, a Springsteen fan and New York City police officer, told the New York Times. “I don’t think this will affect what police officers think about Bruce Springsteen. It’s just a song.”

Others disagreed.

“He shouldn’t use his power to make a statement like that,” said Heather Milyo of Staten Island, whose fiancee is a police officer. “I think you have to be in a cop’s shoes to understand what happened.”

One heckler was escorted from the Garden after he approached the stage and flashed an obscene gesture at Springsteen during the song, which addresses the February 1999 shooting of Amadou Diallo by New York City police.

Springsteen offered neither introduction nor commentary about the song, which was sandwiched between the stark “Point Blank” and “Promised Land” in the set. Members of the E Street Band – Clarence Clemons, Nils Lofgren, Patti Scialfa, and Steven Van Zandt – each stepped to the mic and sang the words “41 shots” to open the number.

The number refers to the shots fired at Diallo by police as he pulled out his wallet in the vestibule of his apartment. The police officers were searching for a rape suspect and were recently acquitted of murder charges in Diallo’s death.

Diallo’s mother, Kadiatou Diallo, has said she interprets the song as a sign that people cared about what happened to her son. She and Diallo’s father, Saikou, were invited to the concert and were seen being escorted from backstage to seats near the stage, according to the New York Daily News.

Earlier in the day, Mayor Rudolph Guiliani and Police Commissioner Howard Safir held a news conference criticizing Springsteen and the song.

Pat Lynch, president of the police union, had previously asked officers to boycott the concerts – either as security guards or as fans – and Bob Lucente, president of the New York State chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police, called Springsteen a “f—ing dirtbag” and other epithets in interviews after the song was first performed in Atlanta June 4.

Safir said that while officers should not denigrate Springsteen with racial, ethnic or sexual innuendos, they don’t have to like his music. “I personally don’t particularly care for Bruce Springsteen’s music or his songs,” Safir said to reporters.

Guiliani said some of the comments slamming Springsteen were inappropriate but added that he understood why officers were angry about the song.

“There are still people trying to create the impression that the police officers are guilty [of murder in the Diallo killing] and they are going to feel strongly about that,” he said.

Neither Springsteen nor his management responded to the criticism, but Springsteen biographer Eric Alterman said Springsteen is not so much condemning the officers or arguing they should have been convicted as he is taking artistic inspiration from social injustice. Springsteen is regarded as a storyteller, and many of his songs revolve around social themes.

“Bruce is saying there is something wrong with a society when you can be shot for taking out your wallet,” Alterman said. “He is saying an injustice was committed against this man and this man’s family.”

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band close out their reunion tour with the stand at the Garden, which continues through July 1.