NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s attorney general sued the New York Police Department on Thursday, calling the rough treatment of protesters against racial injustice last spring part of a longstanding pattern of abuse that stemmed from inadequate training, supervision and discipline.
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Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit includes dozens of examples of alleged misconduct during the spring demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s police killing, including the use of pepper spray and batons on protesters, trapping demonstrators with a technique called kettling and arresting medics and legal observers.
“We found a pattern of deeply concerning and unlawful practices that the NYPD utilized in response to these largely peaceful protests,” James said at a news conference announcing the lawsuit.
James, a Democrat, was tasked by Gov. Andrew Cuomo with investigating whether NYPD officers used excessive force to quell unrest and enforce Mayor Bill de Blasio’s nightly curfew. She issued a preliminary report in July that cited a “clear breakdown of trust between police and the public.”
She is seeking reforms including the appointment of a monitor to oversee the NYPD’s policing tactics at future protests and a court order declaring that the policies and practices the department used during the protests were unlawful.
The NYPD did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.
James’ lawsuit is the second major legal action to stem from the NYPD’s handling of the protests.
In October, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Legal Aid Society sued the city on behalf of protesters who say they were assaulted and abused by police.
A civil rights organization and a city watchdog agency have also criticized the department’s actions.
Human Rights Watch issued a report in November citing evidence that police planned an aggressive crackdown on protesters on June 4 in the Bronx.
In December, the city’s inspector general found that the NYPD was caught off guard by the size of the protests and resorted to aggressive disorder control methods that stoked tensions and stifled free speech.
an unqualified affirmative action appointee is telling cops who fight thugs what to do.
It’s so pathetic already that it’s actually funny at this point..
After ignoring months of violent rioting & looting by the left..then vilifying the Capitol protestors, now they have the audacity to not only neglect to call out the leftist thugs but to instead sue the law enforcement who put their lives in danger everyday & night to protect us from these violent mobs..Nothing surprises me anymore..
What evil hypocrisy. Thanks, guv, but we wish you would find some communist country to govern. You are a complete disgrace.
Firstly, Cuomo and De Blasio have been arch rivals for many years. Secondly, the mayor and NYPD have struggled to find common ground. NYPD wishes to prevent and prosecute crime. De Blasio wants to oppress all New Yorkers with crime filled streets, police presence only as a display, keep all thugs including the violent ones free and circulating, and rising crime and murder rates. The protests were all exacerbated by the mayor’s stand down policy. He should be sued and prosecuted for that.
When the NYPD is limited in its tools to fight crime and to stop violent protesters, there is nothing at their disposal besides what they did. In fact, the laws should mandate that law enforcement use any means possible to stop the mayhem, including lethal firearm use. A few dead protesters will stop the violence. Then if these thugs want to discuss their issues, that’s their freedom of speech. There is zero connection between First Amendment rights and violence.
Meanwhile, the hypocrisy reigns. Anything done in the name of BLM or other forms of domestic terror are supported. Anything done besides rewarding these these wild animals is not tolerated. Yes, socialism. I pray that all those supporting this corrupt value system should become the first victims of it.
sounds like she will be running for office soon. I’ll go start packing. This was once a great city.
The opening for every series in the Law and Order franchise shows the police and district attorneys walking together, side by side, to keep the city safe. In real life, the state attorney general sues the police for doing their job.
I’ll take Adam Schiff, Arthur Branch, or Jack McCoy over this VERY confused AG any day!