In the Media

De Blasio Promises Full Investigation Into Chokehold Death During NYPD Arrest

07/18/2014
Gothamist

Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bratton held a brief press conference today to address the death of Eric Garner, a Staten Island man who died while being arrested for selling illegal cigarettes yesterday afternoon. The arrest was documented in a disturbing video by a bystander, and now the de Blasio administration is launching an investigation into the NYPD's handling of the incident.

Video: De Blasio Addresses Death of Man Strangled by NYPD Officer

07/18/2014
Village Voice

On Thursday night, Staten Island man Eric Garner, 43, known affectionately as "Big E,"died while being arrested after an NYPD officer placed him in a chokehold. Garner, a father of six, was reportedly asthmatic. A disturbing video of the incident posted on Live Leak shows that Garner repeatedly said "I can't breathe!", sounding close to tears, as the police held him to the ground.

De Blasio Promises Full Investigation Into Death Of S.I. Man While In Police Custody

Mayor Offers Condolences To Family Of Eric Garner
07/18/2014
CBS New York

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Mayor Bill de Blasio and police Commissioner Bill Bratton are promising a full and thorough investigation into the death of a Staten Island man while in police custody.

Two police officers — an eight-year veteran and a four-year veteran — have been placed on administrative duty after the death of Eric Garner, 43, CBS 2′s Marcia Kramer reported. Garner went into cardiac arrest Thursday while being placed under arrest, police said.

The two cops have been allowed to keep their guns while the investigation continues.

Civil rights advocates want veto on cop-discipline bill

The bill, supported by police unions and quietly passed at the end of the state legislative session, would make disciplinary policies at police departments subject to collective bargaining.
07/11/2014
Daily News

Civil rights groups are urging Gov. Cuomo to veto a bill that would make disciplinary policies at police departments subject to contract negotiations.  The bill, supported by police unions, was quietly passed at the end of the state legislative session last month.

NYC Cracks Down on Subway Performers

07/02/2014
USA Today

They may be part of what makes New York the city that it is, but the New York City Police Department is cracking down on people who dance and perform acrobatics on the subways for money.

More than 240 people have been arrested for "pass-the-hat" performances on the subway in 2014 compared to 40 this time last year. While it is not a major crime, it is against the law and can set the tone for further lawlessness, Police Commissioner William Bratton says.

Judge Denies Challenge to Law on Police Lawsuits

06/18/2014
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge on Wednesday denied a legal challenge by two police unions to a New York City law that eases the way for racial profiling claims.

"Local Law 71 does not prevent police officers from continuing to stop, question, and frisk while utilizing their training and experience," wrote state Supreme Court Justice Anil Singh. "The law only seeks to deter the use of attributes such as race as the sole basis for an investigatory stop which is antithetical to our constitution and values," Singh wrote.

Public allowed to sue NYPD cops over stop-and-frisk profiling, state judge rules

City police unions have failed in their attempt to prevent NYPD officers from being sued by people targeted by the city's stop-and-frisk policy.
06/18/2014
Daily News

City police unions have failed in their attempt to block a local law that makes it easier for the public to sue cops for racial profiling.

State Supreme Court Justice Anil Singh, in a decision released Wednesday, upheld the Community Safety Act passed by the City Council last year.

The Council’s legislation was neither too vague nor was it preempted by state criminal procedure law, as its opponents had charged, Singh ruled.

This is How Many Blacks and Latinos Will Be Arrested For Pot Possession in 2014, Compared With Other Races

06/02/2014
The Village Voice

Newly-installed NYPD Inspector General Philip Eure has been on the job for less than a week, but there are no shortage of demands on his attention. Last week, we reported on the first complaint filed with Eure's office, nestled in the Department of Investigation, by Robert Jereski on behalf of activists including himself whose organizations had been infiltrated and surveilled by undercover NYPD officers.

City drops lawsuit against racial profiling law from stop-and-frisk package

03/07/2014
Metro NY

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Wednesday that the city would abandon its lawsuit against a controversial law that expand the city’s anti-profiling laws.

The case was a leftover from former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who along with police unions sued to stop the bill due to concerns that it would muddle the courts by allowing plaintiffs to sue individual officers.

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