New York, Dec 18 (EFE) .- The New York Police showed poor training and lack of preparation and ultimately worsened the outcome of the protests in favor of racial justice in the city, which in some cases led to riots , according to an internal investigation that concludes that there was “excess force” in the application of the law.
A 111-page report from the New York City Internal Investigation Department found that some police officers used aggressive tactics and violated the freedom of expression of protesters who took to the streets since the end of May, following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of the Police in Minnesota.
The report criticizes Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York Police Department for not only failing to reduce tension but exacerbating it, as well as for “not having a clear strategy to respond to large-scale protests,” especially when the Police themselves are object of the complaint.
“Some policemen carried out actions that are, at the very least, unprofessional or, worse, an abuse of authority and unjustified force,” such as the use of “disorderly control” methods, which promote increased tension, he says. The report.
More than 2,000 people were arrested between May and June during protests against racism and police brutality in the city.
Despite the majority of the demonstrations being peaceful, the report notes that agents did not differentiate between peaceful protesters and actors seeking to promote violence.
The protests left images that scandalized the country, such as a patrol car charging peaceful protesters or agents attacking with fists or using strangulation techniques against people protesting peacefully.
“The (Police) Department fell into several errors and omissions that surely escalated the tension and surely contributed to both the perception and the reality that the department was suppressing rather than facilitating the first amendment right to free assembly and expression, “adds the report.
De Blasio rushed to react on Friday to the devastating report, apologized and regretted “not having done better.”
“It is clear that we have to do something differently and we have to do it better,” added the councilor, who will leave the Mayor’s Office next year because he cannot repeat in office and whose daughter was detained in the protests.
Despite the belated repentance, de Blasio defended the police action and the city’s chief of police, Dermot F. Shea, and viewed the incidents as isolated. EFE
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