In response to a not guilty verdict against the officer who shot and killed Deborah Danner, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokespersons Monifa Bandele, Vice President & Chief Partnership and Equity Officer at MomsRising.org and Rama Issa-Ibrahim, Executive Director of Arab American Association of New York.
“This verdict is another injustice perpetrated in the unjust killing of Deborah Danner, with the criminal justice system once again failing to hold a police officer accountable. The continued killings of New Yorkers in emotional distress by police are at chronic levels during Mayor de Blasio’s tenure, seemingly occurring once every couple of months, and there is an unacceptable disconnect with the apparent investment in mental health resources touted by this administration. Police officers should not be in charge during these situations, and the testimony during this trial makes clear that Ms. Danner – like many others in similar distress – did not want to deal with police officers within her own home. Since the mayor and police commissioner argued Sergeant Barry failed to follow protocol, and doing so led to his killing Ms. Danner, the NYPD should expeditiously fire Sgt. Barry.”