Press Releases

For immediate release: December 15, 2022

CPR Statement: NYPD Commissioner Sewell’s New Rule Change Impedes Accountability, Safety

NEW YORK- Yesterday, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell announced plans to change the NYPD’s disciplinary guidelines to reduce penalties on officers. She also shared that she had reduced or dismissed penalties against NYPD officers in 72 cases that were recommended by judges and the Civilian Complaint Review Board. Below is a statement from Communities United for Police Reform spokesperson and Justice Committee Families and Cases Organizer Danny Kim (he/him):

For immediate release: November 29, 2022

CPR Outraged by Mayor’s “Dangerous” Plan to Forcibly Detain New Yorkers with Mental Illness

New York, NY -- Today, Mayor Adams announced a sweeping effort allowing law enforcement to involuntarily detain New Yorkers who are perceived to be suffering from a mental health crisis. Outraged by the move to give NYPD unilateral power to detain people against their will regardless of whether or not they are a threat to themselves or others, Communities United for Police Reform and CPR member organizations have released the following statements:

For immediate release: November 17, 2022

NYPD Trial Date Set for Cops Who Killed Black Gay Man In His Home In 2019

Family of Kawaski Trawick, elected officials and supporters rally outside One Police Plaza demanding the firing of officers who killed Trawick in 2019

New York, NY— Today, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Trials Rosemary Maldonado scheduled the NYPD disciplinary trial of Officers Brendan Thompson and Herbert Davis for their 2019 killing of Kawaski Trawick. Mr.

For immediate release: November 16, 2022

CPR Statement: NYPD’s Budget Recklessness Impedes Real Community Safety

Yesterday, Mayor Adams’ Office of Management and Budget announced that the NYPD, one of the city’s largest agencies, will miss the savings goals the mayor promised to New Yorkers by 60 percent. The following response is from Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) spokesperson Keli Young (she/her), Civil Rights Campaign Coordinator at VOCAL-NY: “The November Financial Plan released yesterday is another example of how the Mayor’s approach to city budgeting is misguided and fails to address key city issues while allowing NYPD budget bloat.  
For immediate release: October 25, 2022

Communities United for Police Reform Responds to NYPD Expanded Policing in NYC Subways

This weekend Mayor Eric Adams and Governor Kathy Hochul, alongside NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell, announced dramatically increased police and surveillance presence in the New York City subway system. The following response is from Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) spokesperson Sala Cyril (she/her): 

For immediate release: October 20, 2022

Family of Kawaski Trawick, Community Groups and Electeds Slam Police Union Attorneys for Further Delays in Disciplining Officers Who Killed Trawick

Today, the parents of Kawaski Trawick, the Justice Committee, Communities United for Police Reform, and family attorney Royce Russell attended the pre-trial court conference and gathered with elected officials, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City Councilperson Pierina Sanchez, and other community supporters at One Police Plaza to denounce further obstruction and delays in the disciplinary proceedings against NYPD Officers Brendan Thompson and Herbert Davis, who killed Mr. Trawick on April 14, 2019 in the Bronx.
For immediate release: September 23, 2022

Statement: Communities United for Police Reform Responds to NYPD Expanded Policing and NYC Subway Surveillance

This week the NYPD released a video touting its increased presence in the New York subway system, mere days after it was announced that all subway cars would be fitted with surveillance cameras by 2025. The following response from Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) spokesperson Darian X (he/him), Lead Campaign Organizer with Brooklyn Movement Center:  "While this Mayoral administration is convinced that using decades-old failed Broken Windows policing strategies like increased surveillance and stops will provide safety, New Yorkers of color - particularly Black & Latinx New Yorkers - know all too well that these tactics only lead to police abuse and harassment, and increase the potential for encounters to escalate to brutality and even killing of New Yorkers they claim to be protecting.
For immediate release: June 14, 2022

NYC Budget Justice Campaign Reacts to FY23 Budget, Call for Bolder Future Investments

On June 13, 2022, the New York City Council voted to pass the FY23 city budget. The budget included the largest NYPD spending allocation ever, at over $11B.

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