Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
July 16, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
The mayor signed a package of police reform bills into law Wednesday that aim to combat police brutality and encourage greater police accountability.
The legislation takes aim at police misconduct by banning cops from using chokeholds in all situations as well as making police records more accessible to the public.
The reform bills, called the NYPD Accountability Package, make police disciplinary records and the NYPD’s use of surveillance technologies more transparent. They also require cops to have their shield number and rank designations visible at all times and protect the right of citizens to record the police.
One of the bills requires the department to maintain a centralized system that is used to record, track, review, and evaluate officer activity and to identify officers who may be in need of enhanced training, monitoring, or reassignment.
The legislation was passed by city council last month to help foster trust between police and the general public following weeks of protests and demands for police reform.
The mayor said that the legislation will expand accountability within the NYPD and transform policing across the city.
“I’m confident we can make these reforms work and continue strengthening the bond between police officers and our communities,” the mayor said while signing the legislation in the Bronx. De Blasio had joined activists to help paint “Black Lives Matter” along Morris Avenue shortly beforehand.
The move to ban chokeholds has drawn criticism from top police officials who say the law goes too far and prevents cops from doing their jobs effectively.
The legislation goes further than strictly banning chokeholds; it also prohibits cops from sitting, kneeling or standing on a suspect’s chest and back during an arrest.
NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea has brandished the bill as “insane” while NYPD Chief of Department Terence Monahan previously said that a ban on maneuvers that press against a suspect’s diaphragm would be dangerous for police.
“Any cop who’s ever fought with someone on the street, trying to get him into cuffs, there’s a great possibility that your knee is going to end up on that individual’s back, and now this new law is criminalizing it,” Monahan said last week the New York Post reported
De Blasio acknowledged police concerns Wednesday but said that the city can make the law work.
Queens Council Member Rory Lancman, who introduced the anti-chokehold bill to city council, tweeted that the new reforms will “ensure police conduct themselves in ways that shows Black Lives Matter.”
Featured Events
9 Comments
How about signing the no rioting, looting and demonizing the police bill? oh, I forgot: DeBlasio approves of all the above.
The fact that he’d waste time and money (twice) on his finger painting project is a clear indicator of how far gone he is. And in terms of his co-conspirators: Tawana Brawley anyone?
Do you have a “WHATABOUT?!” that’s less generic? Say, related to this article in any way?
It is not about chokeholds. It is about arresting someone that does not want to be arrested without making physical contact with over 60% of their body. The bill was written by those that have never been in a physical altercation in their lives.
I don’t remember de Blasio supporting rioting. Is there any reason to believe that? No, just a complete lie? Ok.
When de Blasio refused to let the police stop the riots he condoned them. Much like Dinkins and Brown did during the Crown Heights pogrom. As for a reason to believe that, are you kidding? The only question is was de Blasio’s response misfeasance or malfeasance.
Why dont they start teaching basic civics in schools as some young adolescent men seem to be confused as to why they are getting arrested. Make them aware that there is repercussions when you break they law. Dont break the law cops wont bother you./ There, i just solved everybody’s problem
I get what you are saying and I agree with you. But they stems from the home and whomever is there.
Parents and other home people are the first teachers. The people who apparently seem to enjoy living their party life after their children are born also seem to be done with bailing said children out of jail when they are in their 40s and choose not to Adult.
Children are only students for 6.5 hours a school day. There are 180 minimum school days a year. Do the math. Who has more time with them? Children also get different teachers at school. Come middle school they have a different teacher per class. That’s a lot of different styles of teaching and classroom management. With the home you get a better deal with consistency and norm.
Oh wait, they are. Good idea on the whole “no choking people while they scream ‘I can’t breathe’ idea!”