New Oversight Committee Would Restore Faith In NYPD, AG Says

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FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2019 file photo, New York State Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a news conference at her office in New York. New York's attorney general on Thursday, June 18, 2020, blasted the New York City Police Department and the mayor for ignoring repeated invitations to testify at a hearing on allegations that officers used excessive force to quell unrest and enforce a citywide curfew in the wake of George Floyd's death in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, FIle)

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Attorney General Letitia James proposed sweeping changes Wednesday to boost oversight of the New York City Police Department, including forming an independent commission that would approve the department’s budget and have the final say on officer discipline.

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“The police should not police themselves — period,” James, a Democrat, told reporters. “It’s really important that we think of major reforms and not tinkering around the edges.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked James to investigate whether NYPD officers used excessive force to quell unrest and enforce a citywide curfew in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. Floyd’s death led to weeks of demonstrations in the city that became violent at times and prompted widespread allegations of police misconduct.

James did not rule out criminal charges as her investigation continues. In the meantime, she outlined several reforms intended to restore New Yorkers’ faith in law enforcement.

She made clear that none of her recommendations are binding upon city leaders but portrayed her report as a blueprint for transforming accountability in the nation’s largest police department.

In addition to a new oversight committee, James called for decriminalizing “quality of life” offenses like jaywalking and a statewide certification process that would prevent “bad officers from simply being passed from one agency to another.”

“Everything should be on the table,” the attorney general said. “The ultimate goal must be democratizing policing to create trust and systems worthy of that trust.”

Messages were sent to the NYPD and its largest police union seeking comment.

James’ report followed harrowing testimony about New York City police officers slamming peaceful protesters to the ground, kicking a woman in the face and beating people with batons.

The attorney general said she had received more than 1,300 submissions over the past month, and that most of the complaints involved NYPD officers using excessive force, “indiscriminate use of pepper spray, brandishing firearms at protesters, and pushing vehicles or bikes into protesters.”

Other complaints concerned “troubling arrest-related practices,” including the use of “extremely tight zip ties” misgendering detainees and holding protesters in cramped cells.

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea told James last month that fewer than 10 officers were being disciplined for alleged misconduct toward protesters, including one suspended without pay and later charged with assault after he was caught on camera shoving a woman to the ground. Shea said he was “very disturbed” by the incident.

The police oversight commission James proposed would redirect power from the department’s commissioner to a new board with representatives appointed by the City Council, public advocate, comptroller and mayor.

“The commission should also hire and, if necessary, terminate the NYPD Commissioner as well as approve all promotions above the rank of captain,” the report says.

James also recommended NYPD officers be required to live within the five boroughs “so that they better reflect the communities they are required to serve and protect.”

Mayor Bill de Blasio has said the city complied with James’ investigation and pointed to recent steps to reform the police department, including disbanding the plainclothes anti-crime unit.

The city recently approved a budget that will shift $1 billion from policing to education and social services in the coming year following protesters’ demands to cut police spending.


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elyeh
elyeh
3 years ago

She will release more criminals to commit more crimes, and have less police to protect Yidden. That has been her policy and probably will be result of further actions. Nebech.

Flatbush yid
Flatbush yid
3 years ago

And let the protesters throw bricks at police and loot the stores and smash windows. The police should stand around and get out of the way so that looters can collect their loot in peace. Dump DemocRATs

Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
3 years ago

New York.
Gorgeous shtick exile coming to an ignominious end.
Start packing hevra , while there’s time.
New York , New York

Triumphinwhitehouse
Triumphinwhitehouse
3 years ago

The police are anti semites who dont protect jews they are lazy, corrupt and nasty

The world is crazy and getting crazier
The world is crazy and getting crazier
3 years ago

Why would anyone want to live in nyc
With rising crime and anti Semitics
And an AG that’s a liberal socialist like nyc mayor and governor

Zalman Alpert
Zalman Alpert
3 years ago

Modern day Sdom a Olam hafuch ,Jews and others need to arm themselves the civil author will not defend Jews and others

Norman Seabrook
Norman Seabrook
3 years ago

And for blacks to throw bricks at innocent Jews’ head? Ms. James was nowhere to be found when all that was going on. How this dult came to be the AG, is a sign of the deep corruption in the Democrat machine.

Educated Archy
Educated Archy
3 years ago

crazy

Boroch
Boroch
3 years ago

In 1971, the NYPD held a semi-strike, whereby cops refused to either come into work, or just remained in the police precincts, and would not go out on patrol. At that time, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, Inspectors, and Detectives had to go on patrol. The slowdown lasted several days, and the cops were all heavily fined for their job action. There is no doubt that if they pulled that stunt again, in 2020, a good percentage would be terminated.