OUTRAGE: Officers violently tore a 1 y/o baby from a mother’s hands. Lied about her actions. Falsely arrested her. Threatened bystanders w/ a taser for filming the abuse. All caught on film. We all saw it. NYPD finds no wrongdoing. No discipline for cops.politi.co/2rDzCAk
Remember: The Mayor’s first reaction was to express outrage at what he saw. What we *all saw. His second reaction was to defer to the NYPD to investigate its own conduct. This is as much on the mayor as on the NYPD.
If you’ve seen this video, what more needs review? I don’t care what they claim “she did” beforehand. Nothing justifies this. How far has the bar been lowered where this is acceptable behavior for anyone let alone those supposed to "protect & serve."
Just gets worse. NYPD internal affairs claiming she used her baby as a "human shield." Source of that information: Two security officers from the HRA office that wrongfully called 911 in the first place & are *also* under review. Any civilian witnesses? nydailynews.com/new-york/ny-me…
THIS: The 2 HRA security officers involved were suspended w/o pay bc the HRA found they abused their authority before NYPD arrived. Yet NYPD then relied on HRA security as witnesses to exonerate its officers bc of *Ms. Headley's conduct before they arrived?ny1.com/nyc/all-boroug…
A note about those HRA officers now claiming that she bit them. If they had told NYPD or prosecutors that at the time, she would have been arrested & charged w/ assault. She wasnt. They’re trying to justify their actions after the fact. No wonder: Theyre now under investigation.
HER FIRST WORDS: Jazmine Headley speaks out. “It’s the story of many other people, it’s not just my story. My story is the only one that made it to the surface.” She hasn’t been able to watch the video of the incident. It’s too upsetting. Exclusive to NYT: nytimes.com/2018/12/16/nyr… 
*News: Body cam vindicates Ms. Headley: Guard says if she didnt leave shed be arrested & ACS would take her son away. “You’re a joke,” Ms. Headley replied, then turned to go. Officer: “Really?” Then lunged at Headley & grabbed her arm. Everyone tumbled down. Then baby grabbed.
Information on what body cam shows comes from background provided to NYT in the article. nytimes.com/2018/12/16/nyr…
Ms. Headley's mistreatment at the benefit's office wasn't unique. "Ms. Headley has become a cause célèbre for New Yorkers who depend on food stamps & cash public assistance & who say they are often met w/ hostility & are sometimes threatened w/ arrest at city benefits offices."
I'm reading through this @nytimes article now & will continue to share. A lot of new critical information, including the first info on what the body cam footage showed (see above). And most importantly, Ms. Headley's perspective.
**THIS STATISTIC** is shocking, but consistent w/ the charges my office sees. "Since January 2017, law enforcement agencies have been called to food-stamp offices across the city *2,212 times & have arrested 97 people, mainly for assault & offenses against public administration."
More on endemic mistreatment in benefits offices: "The bureaucratic headache that kept Ms. Headley there for hours is not unusual. The practice of prematurely closing public benefits cases & forcing recipients to reapply is so common that advocates have a word for it: churning."
Notably, the only official quoted was Steven Banks, Commissioner of the @NYCHRA. Also the only official taking action. “I could only see my children in that situation, & it’s just heartbreaking. What happened was completely unacceptable & should never happen again in NYC."
HRA suspended the 2 security guards & started process of firing them. Also "reviewing tactics for dealing with people accompanying children & would retrain the peace officers. The guards also will now be ordered to talk to a supervisor before calling the police." Compare to NYPD.
The NYPD "defended the actions of the two officers" and blamed the HRA security guards, saying that "they were to blame for the incident getting out of hand." Yet also based their internal affairs bureau findings exonerating their officers on the testimony of HRA security guards.
Ms. Headley is suing. She's represented by one of the top civil rights law firms in the city. She's reunited with her son. Her Brooklyn charges are dropped. Her New Jersey case will resolve with no record & no time. Her public benefits are restored. But the trauma will remain.
But this is not the end of the story. Cannot be. Right now, the NYPD has sent the message that the behavior of its officers, violently ripping a baby from his mother's arms, escalating a situation that should have been handled without arrest, let alone violence, is justified.
The Mayor once again has deferred to the NYPD to police themselves. Think about the message this sends to the force. You can do anything & face no consequences. If someone sues, the city (read: taxpayers) will pay out on your behalf. Eric Garner's killer is still on the force.
