New York – NYPD Officer In Eric Garner Death To Face Disciplinary Proceeding

    6

    FILE - In this July 7, 2015 file photo Gwen Carr holds a picture of her son, Eric Garner, during a news conference outside New York Gov. Andrew Coumo's New York office. The New York Police Department says it's moving ahead with disciplinary proceedings against a police officer accused in the chokehold death of Garner, an unarmed man. A letter dated Monday, July 16, 2018, from an NYPD lawyer informed the Department of Justice that it would no longer wait for federal authorities to decide whether to charge Officer Daniel Pantaleo in the Garner case. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)New York – The New York Police Department announced on Monday that it will allow disciplinary proceedings to go forward against a patrolman accused in the notorious chokehold death of an unarmed black man, saying it’s run out of patience with federal authorities’ indecision about whether to bring a criminal case.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    On the eve of the four-year anniversary of Eric Garner’s killing, a pointed letter from the NYPD’s top lawyer informed the U.S. Department of Justice of an administrative case that could result in dismissal for the white officer, Daniel Pantaleo, because “there is no end in sight” to the federal probe.

    Typically, the department waits for federal prosecutors to conclude civil rights violations inquiries before taking action. But other probes have taken far less time than the case of a victim whose dying words, “I can’t breathe,” became a slogan for the Black Lives Matter movement.

    “Based on our most recent conversations, it has become clear that a definite date by which time a final decision by the U.S. DOJ will be rendered in this matter cannot be predicted,” Lawrence Byrne, deputy commissioner for legal matters, wrote to prosecutor Paige Fitzgerald.

    “The NYPD has come to the conclusion that given the extraordinary passage of time since the incident without a final decision on the U.S. DOJ’s criminal investigation, any further delay in moving ahead with our own disciplinary proceedings can no longer be justified,” Byrne added.

    A police watchdog agency, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, will prosecute Panteleo under a memorandum of understanding with the NYPD, according to Byrne.

    In a statement, the DOJ said it already told the Police Department in the spring it could go forward and that the move “does not have any bearing on the decision-making timeline.”

    A lawyer for Pantaleo, who’s been on paid desk duty, declined comment on Monday. Pat Lynch, head of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, called on DOJ to close its case but said that the officer deserves due process in the disciplinary process.

    There was no immediate comment from an attorney for Garner’s family, which received $5.9 million from the city in 2015 to settle a wrongful death claim. The family and police reform activists have expressed deep frustration over the inaction by federal authorities and the NYPD after a state probe ended without criminal charges.

    The 43-year-old Garner, who was accused of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes, was stopped by police on Staten Island on July 17, 2014, and refused to be handcuffed. Pantaleo is seen on a widely watched cell phone video putting Garner in an apparent chokehold, which is banned under NYPD policy.

    The heavyset victim, who had asthma, is heard gasping, “I can’t breathe.” He was pronounced dead at a hospital. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused in part by the chokehold.

    Garner’s death sparked angry protests about the treatment of black men and boys at the hands of white police officers.


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    6 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Shlomo-1
    Shlomo-1
    5 years ago

    “Justice delayed is justice denied”
    There is no excuse for DOJ to take 4 years on this case.

    As for “The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused in part by the chokehold” that requires clarification.
    To the ME, homicide is death caused by the actions of another person. It has nothing to do with the crime of homicide. Someone can die because of the actions of another without a crime having been committed.

    5 years ago

    The DOJ is afraid to take on this case, because they are concerned that there might not be a conviction. The cop, Pantaleo would have been indicted, but grand juries in Staten Island, are very conservative, and always side with the cops, right or wrong. Clearly, Pantaleo should be thrown off the force; this case has cost the hard working taxpayers of the City of New York over 6 million dollars. Surely, there has to be some accountability in this matter. If a cop in the 70th Precinct was sent to jail for 30 years for torturing a prisoner in the precint station house, then there is no reason why the feds can’t take action against this cop for killing a man, over untaxed cigarettes. The whole matter stinks!

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    5 years ago

    I cannot imagine why this incompetent is on the force.

    triumphinwhitehouse
    triumphinwhitehouse
    5 years ago

    hes like many NYC cops, dirty, privileaged and TRASH, just happens to be in blue instead of orange.