Dozens of NYPD officers should be disciplined for their acts during the Black Lives Matter protests after George Floydâs death, the police departmentâs oversight agency ruled Monday. The Civilian Complaint Review Board recommended the highest level of discipline against 37 officers and less severe discipline against another 28 officers.
More officers could be guilty, but the CCRB was unable to investigate more than a third of complaints because they couldnât identify the officers; many failed to follow protocol during the protests and covered their names and shields. âAfter fully investigating over a hundred cases, the CCRB continues its commitment to investigating, and when necessary, prosecuting the officers responsible for committing misconduct against New Yorkers during last yearâs Black Lives Matter protests,â CCRB Chair Fred Davie said.
An NYPD spokesperson said the department had worked with the CCRB on their investigation and would work with the CCRB on adjudicating the cases. âThe NYPD has made significant strides and continues to work toward making our discipline processes transparent,â the spokesperson said. âLike any citizen, police officers should be afforded a presumption of innocence until and unless proven guilty.â
Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Lynch slammed the CCRB report. âOnce again, CCRB is carrying political water for Mayor de Blasio and others who are trying to wash away their own failures during last summerâs protests,â Lynch said. âPolice officers were sent out with no plan, no strategy and no support, into a dangerous environment created by politiciansâ irresponsible rhetoric. As a result, dozens of cops were injured, and now dozens more are being made into scapegoats. Itâs ti