CPR Slams Chief O’Neill for Supporting Backroom Political Deal without Touted “Community Engagement”

In response to NYPD Chief James O’Neill, named successor to Commissioner Bratton, announcing his support for the deal Speaker Mark-Viverito and Commissioner Bratton struck in an attempt to block the Right to Know Act police reforms, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Mark Winston Griffith, executive director of Brooklyn Movement Center.

“It’s disappointing that before Chief O’Neill even becomes police commissioner he is making commitments to a backroom political deal between Commissioner Bratton and Speaker Mark-Viverito that attempts to gut the Right to Know Act police reforms supported by over 200 community groups and a majority of the City Council without even reaching out to discuss the issue. If that represents the type of community engagement of the new commissioner that is being so aggressively promoted, then he’s revealed it’s really just politics as usual without substance. In practical terms, the Speaker’s hollow deal changes nothing in the context of a democratic legislature, and this growing coalition will continue to move forward to pass the Right to Know Act into law despite the political obstruction.”  

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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