Statement: Gwen Carr Responds To NYPD Officers’ And Officials’ Statements In Garner Judicial Inquiry

Today, NYPD Officer Mark Ramos was the third witness, in addition to Deputy Commissioner Joseph Reznick and Officer Justin Damico, who has been invited by the court to make a statement following questioning by petitioners’ counsel of their roles and misconduct, during the historic judicial inquiry into Eric Garner’s killing. Each of them have used part of their time to express condolences to Eric Garner’s mother, Gwen Carr who is the lead petitioner in the judicial inquiry.

Below is a statement from Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, in response to Deputy Commissioner Reznick’s, Officer Damico’s, and Officer Ramos’ statements to the court:

“It’s offensive and inappropriate for these officers and officials like Reznick to be able to address me in this court proceeding, say whatever they want even when it has nothing to do with the inquiry, and express their empty condolences 7 years after they helped kill my son Eric and cover it up,” said Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner. “I don’t need condolences 7 years later – I need accountability. They can’t bring my son back but Mayor de Blasio and the NYPD should move to fire all officers and officials who engaged in misconduct in July 2014 and the cover-up since then. If they wanted to express anything, they could have done it at any point in the past 7 years. The only reason to give fake condolences now is to try to excuse their wrongdoing after-the-fact. This inquiry is about transparency, it’s not about giving the City a chance to do public relations damage control, and it shouldn’t be a platform for those who were never held accountable to try to get favorable media coverage. These officers should be fired and Eric should be alive.”

About the Garner judicial inquiry

On August 27, 2019, Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner; Ellisha Flagg-Garner, sister of Eric Garner; Constance Malcolm, mother of Ramarley Graham; Loyda Colon of Justice Committee; Joo-Hyun Kang of Communities United for Police Reform; Monifa Bandele of Malcolm X Grassroots Movement; Mark Winston Griffith of Brooklyn Movement Center; and Kesi Foster of Make the Road New York, filed a historic petition regarding violations and neglect of duty by the Mayor of New York City, the NYPD Police Commissioner, and other New York City officials related to the killing of Eric Garner. The petition was brought under Section 1109 of the New York City Charter, a “sunlight” provision.

After the City moved to dismiss the lawsuit, Justice Joan A. Madden issued a decision on September 24, 2020, allowing a judicial inquiry, which began this week, to move forward with respect to alleged violations and neglect of duty in connection with: (1) the stop, arrest, and use of force against Mr. Garner; (2) the filing of false official documents concerning Mr. Garner's arrest; (3) the leaking of Mr. Garner's alleged arrest history and medical condition in the autopsy report; and (4) the alleged lack of medical care provided to Mr. Garner by police officers. The judicial inquiry will also examine violations and neglect of duties related to the discipline, or lack thereof, for the officers, in relation to the categories above.

The judicial inquiry began October 25 and is expected to last for approximately two weeks. The schedule, which is subject to change, for the proceedings is as follows:

• Monday, October 25th - Friday, October 29th, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
• Wednesday, November 3rd - Thursday, 4, 10:00 AM - 4:30 PM
• Friday, November 5th, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
• There may be additional dates during the week of November 8th

About Communities United for Police Reform

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) is an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory and abusive 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.