#FirePantaleo: Demands for Justice as NYPD Officer Who Used Fatal Chokehold on Eric Garner Gets Suspension by Andrea Germanos!
(2019-08-02 at 21:18:15 )

#FirePantaleo: Demands for Justice as NYPD Officer Who Used Fatal Chokehold on Eric Garner Gets Suspension by Andrea Germanos

Department puts Daniel Pantaleo on suspension after administrative judge recommends firing

On the five year anniversary of Eric Garners death, and one day after federal prosecutors declined to bring charges against the arresting police officer Daniel Pantaleo, activists join Garners family members, including his five year old daughter Legacy, to march around the neighborhood where Garner lived and died on July 17, 2019 in Staten Island, New York City.

The New York Police Department announced Friday it was placing officer Daniel Pantaleo-who placed Eric Garner in a banned and fatal chokehold in 2014-on suspension following an administrative judges recommendation earlier in the day that Mr. Pantaleo be fired.

The developments sparked the hashtag #FirePantaleo to light up Twitter and ignited renewed demands from Mr. Garners family for justice and "true accountability."

As the New York Daily News reported:

In her recommendation, [NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Trials Rosemary] Maldonado found Mr. Pantaleo guilty of one of the two charges against him-recklessly using a chokehold banned by the NYPD. She cleared him of the second charge, intentionally restricting Mr. Garners breathing. Mr. Pantaleo testified before the grand jury that he used a department-approved seatbelt takedown maneuver on Garner.

Ms Maldonados recommendation that Mr. Pantaleo be fired is going unheeded-at least at this point.

According to NBC News:

Now it is up to the citys police commissioner whether Mr. Pantaleo will keep his job, a decision the department said will come this month.

The NYPD announced that the officer has been suspended effective Friday in keeping with longstanding practice when there is a recommendation for firing.

Scott Hechinger, a public defender and director of policy at Brooklyn Defender Services, said that firing Pantaleo "is literally the very least NYPD could have done." Instead, said Hechinger, the department is sending "a chilling message to cops: -Do anything. We got you.-"

As Mr. Hechinger referenced, Mr. Pantaleos killing of the 43-year-old father was captured on video.

That video-which showed Mr. Garner repeating, "I cant breathe, I cant breathe" as he was pulled to the ground-went viral and became a rallying cry for justice for police brutality.

Online racial justice organization Color of Change said in a tweet Friday: "#EricGarner and his family deserve justice. It has been 5 years too long. Nothing will bring Eric back, but the NYPD Commissioner and -NYCMayor must follow this long overdue recommendation and #FirePantaleo to finally provide justice to Mr. Garners family. #JusticeforEricGarner"

Eric Garners mother, Gwen Carr, said Ms Maldonados recommendation brought her "some relief," but she reiterated her call for Mr. Pantaleo and "all of these officers who engaged in misconduct related to Erics murder" to be fired.

Police reform campaign Change the NYPD shared Ms Carrs statement:

"My family and I have been fighting for five long years for justice and accountability for Erics murder-and Mayor de Blasio and the NYPD have put up roadblocks and delays every step of the way. It brings me some relief to learn that Judge Maldonado has recommended that Mr. Pantaleo be fired-but the recommendation is long overdue, I am still not allowed to see Ms Maldonados report, and we still have a ways to go before there is true accountability for Erics murder. It is past time for Mayor Bill de Blasio and the NYPD to end their obstruction, stop spreading misleading talking points, and finally take action for my son.

"Mr. Pantaleo must immediately be put on unpaid suspension so that he does not continue to profit from the murder of my son, he should be stripped of his badge and weapons immediately, and he should be fired without a pension, benefits, or a -good guy letter.-

"A disciplinary trial for Sgt. Kizzy Adonis must be scheduled immediately, and all officers responsible for my sons death and for engaging in misconduct to cover it up must be charged and fired-including Justin D Amico and Lt. Christopher Bannon.

"My son deserves more than recommendations; he deserves justice. New Yorkers deserve to know that police who kill our children and those who try to cover it up will be fired from the NYPD so that they do not get paid with our taxpayer dollars to be a danger to us. I will continue to fight-and I am asking everyone who supports me in NYC and around the country to continue to fight-until there is accountability for Eric and for all New Yorkers, and until Mr. Pantaleo and all of these officers who engaged in misconduct related to Erics murder have been fired from the NYPD."

As the New York Times recently reported, "As a legal matter, [New York City Mayor] Mr. de Blasio cannot directly fire Officer Pantaleo; that role falls to the police commissioner, James P. O’Neill." Yet, the Times wrote, "the mayor certainly has influence over the police department."

Ms Carr was not alone in urging de Blasio to use his influence to effect Mr. Pantaleos ouster. De Blasio was interrupted by hecklers who shouted "Fire Pantaleo" on Wednesday during the Democratic presidential primary debate. And Justice League NYC, an initiative of criminal justice reform group Gathering for Justice, made a similar call Friday.

"Finally, after five long years," said Justice League NYC, "a judge has seen what we have always seen-#EricGarner was killed by an illegal chokehold and the moral obligation is to #FirePantaleo-and now it is time for NYCMayor to act."

Reprinted here from "Common Dreams" has been providing breaking news & views for the progressive community since 1997. We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100% reader supported.