This cop threw 11 y/o to the sidewalk. Put her in a banned chokehold. Lied about it under oath. NYPD shut down investigation. No consequences. He’s now patrolling Yankee stadium. Making $163k/yr while posting racist & Islamaphobic content online. Your NYPD.buzzfeednews.com/article/kendal…
NYPD’s ludicrous defense of extreme violence on a child: “The department found the officer’s use of force was appropriate given the girl’s attempts to evade custody and determined his statement under oath describing the incident did not constitute a ‘false official statement.’”
Other outrage: NY law protects discipline records (least transparent in country). Took 3 yrs to unearth this. “NY residents have almost no way of finding out which officers patrolling streets have been accused of serious wrongdoing & whether they received punishment as a result.”
Before this article, if this officer arrested a client of mine, Id never know. Never be able to ask for info. Worse, even if I did know, coercive plea bargaining would prevent opportunity to cross examine him about anything. Officers know there’s no accountability & act like it.
So what can we DO about it? Biggest, clearest step is to call to #Repeal50a (NY Civil Rights Law 50-a) — the law blocking any & all transparency into disciplinary records. nyclu.org/en/news/law-ma…
Legislation has already been introduced in the state legislature to repeal this archaic law that is so out of step with the rest of the country. When new session begins in January you can & should let them know where you stand. That this is a priority. nyassembly.gov/leg/?default_f…
Another significant intervention point: Prosectors *should not rely & charge* arrests by incredible, discredited, violent, or others is problematic officers. Krasner in Philly has “do not call” lists. DAs here dont. Tell your DA to send NYPD a message.
Prosecutors are justice system gatekeepers. They decide whether to charge at all (ie what comes into criminal court). If they know cops have records of misconduct, they shouldnt credit them. By declining to prosecute, it sends a strong message that bad behavior won’t be tolerated
