CPR Responds to Media Leaks of the Names of NYPD Officers Responsible for Killing Saheed Vassell

New York – Tonight, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) released the statement below responding to media leaks of the names of NYPD officers responsible for the killing of Saheed Vassell. 

The statement below can be attributed to Carolyn Martinez-Class, a spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR).

"For months, Mayor de Blasio and the NYPD have refused to release the names of the officers responsible for killing Saheed Vassell in a hail of at least 10 bullets. Leaking the names of officers who killed Saheed at the end of the day on a Friday, 16 weeks after refusing to respond to the pleas of Saheed's family and continuing to refuse to release unedited footage of the officers, is not transparency. And it’s no substitute for an official announcement from the NYPD about involved officers, including the 5th officer who reportedly did not shoot any bullets,”said Carolyn-Martinez Class, a spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR). 

“If the leaks tonight are accurate, it is despicable and dangerous for New Yorkers that none of these officers were put on modified duty after shooting and killing Saheed Vassell, all while the NYPD is claiming that their investigation of the incident has yet to be completed. The message this sends - just like in the case of Eric Garner- is that officers in de Blasio's NYPD who kill unarmed New Yorkers will be protected at all costs, even if they may pose a risk to public safety. Saheed, his family and community deserve real transparency and real accountability from the NYPD," said Carolyn Martinez-Class, a spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR). 

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About Communities United for Police Reform

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) is an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, and to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and policing practices based on cooperation and respect– not discriminatory targeting and harassment.

CPR brings together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change. The partners in this campaign come from all 5 boroughs, from all walks of life and represent many of those unfairly targeted the most by the NYPD. CPR is fighting for reforms that will promote community safety while ensuring that the NYPD protects and serves all New Yorkers.

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