MANHATTAN - “New records released on Friday revealed that in more than 40 instances over the past 5 years, NYPD officers found guilty of abuse and misconduct by a police department judge had their guilty verdicts voided by NYPD commissioners and faced no punishment. This news is infuriating and a disgrace to the office charged with serving and protecting Manhattanites. Despite the CCRB and the NYPD judges evaluating evidence, hearing from witnesses and finding these officers guilty of misconduct, they faced zero repercussions because their commissioner felt they shouldn’t.
This clearly demonstrates that police officers who engage in misconduct are not being held accountable. The unfairness and injustice of a system that protects police officers who violate their oath over getting justice for victims of their violence is exactly why the next District Attorney must be committed to fighting practices like this and holding police accountable.
As Manhattan District Attorney, I will not be bound by the unilateral decisions of any police commissioner who ignores evidence of excessive force and misconduct. I will fully investigate and prosecute officers who engage in these practices. Uncovering abuses like this is why I fought for over five years to repeal 50-a, one of the worst police secrecy laws in the country. I have been fighting for these issues my entire career in government, almost a decade.
I’m running for Manhattan District Attorney to make Manhattan safer for everyone, including the New Yorker pushed into moving traffic by a police officer, and the New Yorker who was placed in an illegal chokehold by an officer. We can and we must build a New York that keeps everyone safe, and police accountability is a key piece of achieving that safety.”