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New York’s attorney general has sued the New York Police Department, calling the rough treatment of protesters against racial injustice last spring part of a longstanding pattern of abuse. (Jan. 14)

AP Domestic

New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office is suing New York City and its police department over excessive force in response to the protests following George Floyd’s death last year.

The lawsuit filed Thursday seeks broad relief, including systemic reforms for the department and the implementation of a monitor to oversee NYPD policing tactics in future protests and work to ensure compliance with the law.

At a news conference Thursday, James said her office’s investigation into the NYPD’s conduct showed an overly aggressive response to what were largely peaceful protests.

“We need immediate change to decades-old unjust policies and practices,” James said at a press conference Thursday. “And to restore trust and ensure that reforms are fully implemented, it is critical that real changes are made.” 

Protestors confront members of the NYPD near Union Square in Manhattan May 30, 2020. The protests at Union Square Protests and marches took place throughout the city for a second day over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. (Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

The lawsuit, also naming Mayor Bill de Blasio, Commissioner Dermot Shea and other police leadership, comes after a wave of protest this summer over the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and the larger pattern of unarmed Black people being killed by law enforcement, according to a statement from the attorney general’s office.

De Blasio said that he met with James on Wednesday and that they both share the common goal of seeing additional police reforms. Yet, he believes the lawsuit will not make their shared goal happen faster. 

“A court process and the added bureaucracy of a federal monitor will not speed up this work,” de Blasio said. “There is no time to waste and we will continue to press forward.”

The NYPD also welcomes reform and has embraced the recent suggestions by both the city’s Department of Investigation and law department, but agreed with the mayor that the legal action doesn’t hasten reform, according to a police department spokesperson.

Dec. 18: NYPD’s use of force and mass arrests ‘heightened tensions’ during George Floyd protests, watchdog reports

In response to those largely peaceful protests, James is accusing NYPD of using brutal force tactics and not properly training, supervising, and disciplining officers to prevent misconduct. 

In the complaint, James lays out dozens of alleged instances of police excessive force and other misconduct that caused protesters significant harm, including the unjustified use of batons pepper spray, bicycles, and a crowd-control tactic known as kettling. 

“There is no question that the NYPD engaged in a pattern of excessive, brutal, and unlawful force against peaceful protesters,” said James. “Over the past few months, the NYPD has repeatedly and blatantly violated the rights of New Yorkers, inflicting significant physical and psychological harm and leading to great distrust in law enforcement.” 

Protestors confront members of the NYPD near Union Square in Manhattan May 30, 2020. The protests at Union Square Protests and marches took place throughout the city for a second day over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.  (Photo: Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

After violent clashes between the NYPD and protesters, the Office of the Attorney General received more than 1,300 complaints and pieces of evidence through a dedicated online portal and phone and email hotlines since late May. 

In total, the office found that officers struck protesters with blunt instruments at least 50 times, unlawfully deployed pepper spray against protesters in at least 30 incidents, and used unreasonable force by pushing or striking protesters at least 75 times, the statement read. 

NYPD officers are also accused of unlawfully arresting legal observers, medics and other workers without probable cause. 

James said that “we have a problem that is bigger than any one officer” and that it must be addressed with proper training, protocols and discipline. 

“It is my hope that today’s action will push the city in the right direction, so that we may move forward in decency, transparency and with the respect for the law,” James said. 

Follow Tiffany Cusaac-Smith on Twitter @T_Cusaac. 

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