A new report says nearly 150 New York City police officers committed misconduct. Including the use of excessive force, in responding. To the 2020 protests against the killing of George Floyd.
About 150 New York City police officers committed misconduct, including. The use of excessive force, in responding to the 2020 protests. Against the killing of George Floyd, according to a report released. Monday by a civilian review board.
The city’s Civilian Complaint Review Board, or CCRB, also found. Less than the panel recommended, and in some cases officers found. Investigations into more than 600 complaints about police behavior during. Often, police intentionally. Wore shock bands on their badges or refused to provide their names. Or the department failed to track where officers were deployed. The 590-page report said.
The document describes, for example. Police actions during a protest in Brooklyn on May 30, 2020. Which drew many complaints. An officer drove a police car into the crowd and tackled the protesters to the ground. Another officer pulled down a protester’s coronavirus-protective mask. And pepper-sprayed him in the face. On the Brooklyn Bridge that day, officers confronted. Protesters and hit them over the head with batons, the report said.
The panel substantiated 269 allegations of misconduct against 146 officers. Including 140 allegations of excessive. Use of force and 72 allegations of abuse of authority. Including officers refusing to give their names or refusing to issue their badges. Charges sustained include 34 people for improperly batting. And 28 for using pepper spray.
“Protests against police brutality have created more examples of police misconduct. Review board chair Arva Rice said in a statement. “If this misconduct is not addressed, it will never be reformed.”
The document contains recommendations for changes.
The NYPD said it objects to many of the board’s features. In a statement, it said many. If not all, of the review board’s recommendations have. Already been implemented in response to the department’s. Own review and proposals from other agencies.
“A key element missing from this report is any recognition. That officers were performing. Their highest duty, protecting the city and its people. In what were often unsustainable. Dangerous situations,” the department said.
The agency also said that out of 226 complaints reviewed by the board. There were 1,800 complaints and only 15% of them were substantiated. The number of officers found guilty of misconduct. Is only a fraction of the more than 20,000 on duty daily at the height of the protests. Some protesters were looting, arson and destroying property, the department noted.
The NYPD reported that more. Than 400 officers were injured during the protests, with 250 hospitalized.
Patrick Lynch, head of the Police Benevolent Association, was also critical.
“Once again, anti-police activists in the CCRB. Are trying to blame individual police officers. For management failures and chaos caused by violent agitators,” he said in a statement. “We are still waiting for ‘accountability’ for the city. The leaders who sent us out without any planning and support. And for the criminals who injured over 400 of our brothers and sisters.”
The board recommended charges and other disciplinary action against 89 officials. Three of those cases were resolved through guilty pleas. Four officers forfeited vacation days. And administrative proceedings against 62 officers are pending, the report said. .
It made several recommendations, including updated training. On crowd control techniques for all officials. The board also said that police should not interfere with members of the press. Officers’ names and shield numbers should be visible at all times. And that the department should check. How different tactics and equipment are used during protests.
The New York Civil Liberties Union. said the report shows how officers reacted with violence.
“This report provides clear evidence to the public of officer misconduct. Critical access to troves of internal records and. Ultimately, the NYPD’s unwillingness to hold officers accountable,” Molly Bicklen. Deputy legal director of the New York ACLU, said in a statement.
