CPR Responds to End of Disciplinary Trial for NYPD Officer, where CCRB Only Sought to Take Away Vacation Days from Officer

In response to the end of the disciplinary trial into Officer James Frascatore, who tackled and slammed former tennis pro James Blake to the ground before improperly placing him in handcuffs outside of his Manhattan hotel in 2015 and the CCRB only seeking to take away vacation days as discipline, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Anthonine Pierre.

“The CCRB seeking only to take away vacation days from an NYPD officer who used excessive force against James Blake undermines the agency’s purpose of pursuing meaningful accountability for police brutality and misconduct. Officer Frascatore was the subject of five misconduct complaints by civilians in the span of 7 months before attacking Mr. Blake, and this type of slap on the wrist sends the message that officers who abuse and brutalize people in this city will be protected. There is no police accountability in New York City and the de Blasio administration is only making it worse by taking the city backwards on transparency, allowing officers like this to continue abusing New Yorkers. Body cameras, ‘neighborhood policing,’ and training are useless when an officer can abuse civilian after civilian, not be held accountable, and have City Hall and 1PP conceal that brutality, misconduct and lack of discipline. If the de Blasio administration wants to be serious about police accountability, it must transparently fire officers who engage in brutality. That should happen with Officer Frascatore, as well as the multiple officers who killed Ramarley Graham (Sergeant Scott Morris and Officer John McLoughlin) and Eric Garner.”

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.

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