By Natalie Colarossi
Staff Writer
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At least 65 New York police officers should be disciplined for engaging in misconduct during last summer's Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests, the NYPD's watchdog agency said Monday.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) said in a new report that of more than 300 complaints filed against the NYPD, at least 91 allegations against 65 officers have been substantiated. Among those, the police watchdog group is recommending the highest level of discipline against 37 officers and less severe discipline for the remaining 28.
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Those who are recommended to face the highest discipline will be given an administrative trial run by the CCRB's prosecution unit. If found guilty, those officers could face termination, suspension, or loss of vacation days. Others who engaged in less severe misconduct will be addressed through additional training or the loss of vacation days, the agency added.
"After 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 year's Black Lives Matter protests," CCRB Chair Fred Davie said in a statement.
"The APU [Administrative Prosecution Unit] is prepared to move forward with trials for the 37 officers who have received the highest level of disciplinary recommendations, as soon as the NYPD serves officers."
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The watchdog group said Monday that they were unable to investigate 34 percent of cases because they could not identify the officers, a number up from just 10 percent one year earlier. This is because several officers unlawfully covered their names and shields, wore protective equipment, or failed to operate their body cameras during the protests, the group said.
In total, more than 750 New York residents filed complaints about their encounters with the NYPD following the death of George Floyd and nationwide protests against police brutality last summer. However, that number ultimately dwindled down to 313 due to the CCRB's investigative jurisdiction, according to Gothamist.
Dozens of protesters alleged that they suffered injuries at the hands of police during the demonstrations that included broken arms, concussions, nerve damage, fractured eye sockets and bloody wounds.
Several videos taken by both protesters and journalists captured police using excessive force by punching, kicking, shoving and pepper-spraying individuals.
In response to allegations, NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea in June largely defended the actions of officers, stating that they used "an incredible amount of restraint" during the demonstrations and that he was "proud of their performance in policing these protests, ending the riots and upholding the rule of law."
Newsweek contacted the CCRB for additional comment.
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