Communities United for Police Reform Statement Re: Departures of Chief Banks & First Deputy Commissioner Pineiro

Today, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement:

"The recent departures of Police Chief Philip Banks and First Deputy Police Commissioner Rafael Pineiro raise concerns about how changing the NYPD as an institution will move from words to action.  Ensuring that senior leadership of the NYPD, like all city agencies, become more representative of the City’s diverse communities is important as one indicator of commitment to change. At the same time, there are concrete changes to NYPD policy and culture that are necessary and long-overdue. Officers who brutalize New Yorkers must be held accountable by the department with timely and appropriate discipline. The NYPD must end discriminatory practices, such as unlawful searches, racially biased marijuana arrests and other examples of abusive ‘broken windows’ enforcement in communities of color,” said Priscilla Gonzalez.

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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.

Learn more: http://changethenypd.org/
Follow CPR on Twitter: @Changethenypd
Like CPR on Facebook: Facebook.com/Changethenypd