New Yorkers Express Outrage over Kawaski Trawick Decision, Rally to Prevent More Killings by NYPD

Today, families of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD, youth and racial justice organizations, elected officials and others rallied at Foley Square – outraged by the recent decision not to discipline either officer who killed 32-year-old Kawaski Trawick– and demanded immediate changes to reduce the NYPD’s outsized power and prevent more killings by the NYPD. 

Over the weekend, Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Edward Cabán made the decision not to fire or discipline Officers Brendan Thompson and Herbert Davis for killing Kawaski Trawick in his home while he was cooking, on the night of April 14, 2019. The announcement coincided with the five-year anniversary since the officers broke the chain on Kawaski’s door to gain illegal entry, violated their training and NYPD procedures, and tased and shot him within 112 seconds. Neither of the officers attempted to administer emergency medical aid and let Mr. Trawick bleed out on the floor as Herbert Davis held the door shut. 

“This past weekend was painful for my family. We thought we were going to mark the 5 years Kawaski was murdered by being together in peace, celebrating Kawaski's life and mourning our loss. Instead, Mayor Adams and the NYPD re-traumatized my family, forcing us to contend with their unacceptable decision Friday night and into the weekend - this was unimaginably painful,” said Mrs. Ellen and Mr. Rickie Trawick, parents of Kawaski Trawick in a statement read by Keith Fuller of Make the Road New York. “We said it on Friday and we're saying it again: Mayor Adams should be ashamed of himself, as a father and as a Black man. Not firing the police who murdered my son in 112 seconds in his home is disgraceful and the fact that Adams didn't even let my family know of the decision before making it public is the height of disrespect. To add insult to injury, we had to find out from the press over the weekend that Adams let Herbert Davis retire before a decision was made and we still have no details about this.”  [Full Trawick family statement at the end of this release.]

In support of the Trawick family, advocates and elected officials demanded answers regarding reports that Officer Herbert Davis was allowed to retire before a discipline decision and whether he was provided with a “good guy letter” and permission to keep his gun.

Kawaski’s case bears striking resemblance to 19-year-old Win Rozario, who was shot and killed in his own home by NYPD officers after he called 911 while in emotional distress. The family of Win Rozario was present to express their support for Kawaski Trawick’s family’s ordeal, including Utsho Rozario (Win’s younger brother), Notan Costa (Win’s mother), and Francis Rozario Win’s father.  Speaking on behalf of his family, Utsho Rozario shared their condolences to the Trawick family, noted that his family still hasn’t been given the names of the officers who killed his brother and said “This decision to not fire the cops who killed Kawaski is really scary for my family.  If Mayor Adams and the NYPD let the cops get away with killing Kawaski who was cooking alone, in his own home, we’re worried they will let the cops who killed Win get away with it, too. It is not ok for police to come into our homes and murder us. If we let them get away with murdering us at home, what else are we letting them get away with? If it happens to our family, it could happen to yours too.” [Full statement at the end of this release.]

The late Friday announcement was repeatedly criticized for misleading the public. Advocates and elected officials also called for cutting NYPD’s “co-response” mental health teams, removal of police from all mental health response and changes to prevent cover-ups and obstruction in pending and future discipline of NYPD officers who kill and abuse their authority.

"The decision was monstrous and the pseudo-legal framing of the announcement was intentionally and wildly misleading, continuing the five-years of cover-up by City Hall and the NYPD. Police can and should be fired when they violate protocols and the result is the killing of a New Yorker.  What the DA failed to do and what the already-discredited FID report concluded is irrelevant to the question of whether Thompson and Davis should have been fired and they only include it to distract us from the truth," said Loyda Colon, Executive Director of Justice Committee and CPR spokesperson. "We all saw the video, the CCRB proved it in the discipline trial - Thompson and Davis both committed fireable offenses and violated their training and the NYPD's own patrol guide in multiple ways. In spite of the announcement's distracting mumbo-jumbo, the evidence was clear that Herbert Davis broke the chain on Kawaski's door, Thompson and Davis illegally entered, Thompson tased and shot Kawaski in 112 seconds and then neither cop made any attempt to save Kawaski's life - in fact, at one point Thompson held the door shut while Kawaski lay bleeding out on the other side. Police need to be removed from all mental health encounters and the NYPD's budget for misinformation must be cut by at least 50%. We are all less safe because of this decision and this administration's corrupt actions -- and both Mayor Adams & Commissioner Caban should be ashamed.”

For years, Kawaski Trawick’s parents (Ellen and Rickie Trawick) have worked with the Justice Committee, Communities United for Police Reform and others to call for the firing of Thompson and Davis in the face of repeated cover-ups and obstruction by two mayoral administrations and the NYPD. For almost two years, the NYPD did not release any video footage from the incident and when it did, it was incomplete. The department did not release the full video until a judge ordered its release and issued a fine. After Mr. Trawick was killed; the NYPD did not turn over body camera footage to the CCRB for 21 months, blocking the CCRB from doing a timely investigation. Internal investigation reports show that the NYPD investigation was a sham, and investigators did not spend more than 30 minutes interviewing either Thompson or Davis. Not a single question was asked about what the video footage showed or when Thompson or Davis contradicted the footage or each other. 

The rally was organized by groups that have been working closely with Kawaski Trawick’s family on the campaign to fire Thompson and Davis, including: Justice Committee, Communities United for Police Reform, Make the Road NY, Housing Works, NYC Anti-Violence Project, VOCAL-NY, El Puente, Showing Up for Racial Justice-NYC, and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice.  Also speaking or in attendance at the rally were: Hawa Bah, mother of Mohamed Bah (killed by NYPD in 2012 in response to a mental health call); and Councilmember Tiffany Caban.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES:

“I see cops everywhere I go - from the train station to my school - and am furious knowing they wouldn’t be held accountable for murdering a New Yorker. I would be heartbroken if cops killed a member of my family. Kawaski meant the world to his family, just like my family means the world to me. Once again the city has failed us by not firing officers Thompson & Davis for the murder of Kawaski Trawick, “ said youth member Quasie Melendez of Make the Road NY 

“Kawaski Trawick should be alive today.  NYPD has undermined justice,  first by refusing to turn over video evidence necessary for the CCRB's investigation, and now by refusing to fire the officers responsible for killing Mr. Trawick in his own home. Mr. Trawick's family cannot heal and safety in our communities is consistently weakened when NYPD fails to hold officers accountable for killing civilians. We grieve for the Trawick family, those with mental illness who receive harm and not help, and all impacted by police violence," said Marco A. Carrion, Executive Director, El Puente.

Full statement from Mrs. Ellen and Mr. Rickie Trawick, parents of Kawaski Trawick: 

“This past weekend was painful for my family. We thought we were going to mark the 5 years Kawaski was murdered by being together in peace, celebrating Kawaski's life and mourning our loss. Instead, Mayor Adams and the NYPD re-traumatized my family, forcing us to contend with their unacceptable decision Friday night and into the weekend - this was unimaginably painful. 

We said it on Friday and we're saying it again: Mayor Adams should be ashamed of himself, as a father and as a Black man. Not firing the police who murdered my son in 112 seconds in his home is disgraceful and the fact that Adams didn't even let my family know of the decision before making it public is the height of disrespect. To add insult to injury, we had to find out from the press over the weekend that Adams let Herbert Davis retire before a decision was made and we still have no details about this. 

Thompson and Davis broke into my son’s home and murdered him within seconds, without even attempting to administer aid. They should have already been fired but Mayor Adams and the NYPD don't care about protecting New Yorkers from cops who kill. The disregard they have for our son's memory, to make this decision as part of a late Friday news dump, on the five-year anniversary of his death is disgusting and shameful. We hope New Yorkers don't let the mayor and NYPD get away with this and we hope they do something to stop the NYPD's ability to just murder people in their homes. Shame on Mayor Adams. Shame on Commissioner Caban.

We also want to thank all the groups and New Yorkers for everything you've done to fight and support our family over the past five years. We couldn't have fought this battle without you. We're forever grateful to you and we hope you can change your city."

Full statement from Utsho Rozario, Win Rozario’s brother:

My name is Utsho Rozario and I’m the brother of Win Rozario, who was killed by NYPD officers whose names we still don’t know.  Thank you to everyone who has given my family time to grieve the loss of my brother Win. It has been a really painful time for us and we are still in shock and mourning. 

We came out today to stand with Kawaski Trawick’s family after this terrible decision to not fire or even discipline the cops. We send our condolences to the Trawick family. This decision to not fire the cops who killed Kawaski is really scary for my family.  If Mayor Adams and the NYPD let the cops get away with killing Kawaski who was cooking alone, in his own home, we’re worried they will let the cops who killed Win get away with it, too. It is not ok for police to come into our homes and murder us. If we let them get away with murdering us at home, what else are we letting them get away with? If it happens to our family, it could happen to yours too. 

Next week, we will hold a press conference to share more thoughts and our demands. But for today, we’re just here to say we’re worried about what this outcome means for our family and for New York. We will fight, hope and pray it won’t be the same for my family and that cops will actually get fired and prosecuted for murdering Win. 

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 reduces reliance on policing. CPR runs coalitions of over 200 local, statewide and national organizations, bringing 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 most unfairly targeted by the NYPD.