Communities United for Police Reform Responds to NYPD Commissioner Announcement

In response to officer Edward Caban’s appointment as the new NYPD Commissioner, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statement from CPR spokesperson Jose Lopez (he/him), Co-Executive Director of Make the Road NY and CPR Steering Committee Member.

“Mayor Adams and newly appointed NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban must be judged by their actions to address systemic violence and abuses of the NYPD against New Yorkers, especially Black, Latinx and other New Yorkers of color.  Their track record so far points to repeated failures to address issues of NYPD impunity, and Caban’s own history of racial profiling and police misconduct is deeply concerning.

“Already under the Adams administration and Caban’s watch as first deputy commissioner, discriminatory and unconstitutional stops by the NYPD are on the rise, while the department has taken steps to weaken their disciplinary matrix.  Homeless New Yorkers and those struggling with mental health needs are being criminalized and targeted by the NYPD, while the services that they rely on for care have been gutted in our city budget. The families of New Yorkers killed by police, like Kawaski Trawick, Delrawn Small, Antonio Williams, Eric Garner, Allan Feliz and too many others, are still fighting for accountability, while the officers responsible for killing their loved ones and engaging in misconduct remain on the force, often receiving promotions and raises on taxpayers’ dime.  

“Talk is cheap and communities are demanding action. As long as the Mayor and NYPD Commissioner continue to protect rogue NYPD officers and deploy discriminatory policies and tactics, our communities will be less safe. As his first task, Commissioner Caban must work to end abusive policing by the NYPD, including firing officers who brutalize and kill New Yorkers.”

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.