New York Lawman Eric Schneiderman Seeks Power To Probe Police Killings
I Can’t Breath: Demonstrators protest the decision of a grand jury not to indict a N.Y. police officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner. Image by getty images
I Can’t Breath: Demonstrators protest the decision of a grand jury not to indict a N.Y. police officer in the chokehold death of Eric Garner. Image by getty images
New York State’s top prosecutor on Monday sought the power to probe all police killings of unarmed civilians in his state, following sometimes violent U.S. protests over two grand juries’ moves to clear officers in the deaths of unarmed black men.
The morning after angry crowds hurled objects at police who responded with tear gas during protests in northern California, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said action was needed to address a “crisis of confidence” in the criminal justice system.
Cities across the United States have seen large protests in recent nights following a grand jury’s decision not to charge an officer in the July killing of Eric Garner. An unarmed black father of six, Garner died after police put him in a banned chokehold.
The decision in the Garner case came a little more than a week after a Missouri grand jury cleared an officer in the August fatal shooting of an unarmed black teen, Michael Brown.
“The horrible events surrounding the death of Eric Garner have revealed a deep crisis of confidence in some of the fundamental elements of our criminal justice system,” Schneiderman said in a statement. “Nothing could be more critical for both the public and the police officers who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe than acting immediately to restore trust.”
Schneiderman said he was seeking a temporary executive order from state Governor Andrew Cuomo shifting authority to investigate police killings of unarmed civilians to the state from local prosecutors, who work closely with local police, until lawmakers could pass a more permanent measure.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, whose office is investigating the Garner case, on Monday plans to unveil a set of changes to federal law enforcement guidelines intended to set an example for local police, according to a Justice Department official.
Cold, wet weather in New York brought smaller crowds of protesters over the weekend, though organizers have vowed fresh actions on Monday as Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate visit the city.
In Cleveland, where the U.S. Justice Department last week said police routinely use excessive force, Samaria Rice, the mother of a 12-year-old African American boy shot dead by police in November, spoke to media for the first time since her son’s death.
Rice’s son, Tamir Rice, was shot near a recreation center, while carrying a pellet gun that was a replica of a real gun. The boy’s family has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the city and the two officers involved, one who shot Rice on Nov. 22 and one who was driving the police car.
“I’m actually looking for conviction,” Rice told reporters. “Tamir was a bright child, he had a promising future and he was very talented in all sports, soccer, basketball, football. He was my baby.”
BERKELEY RIOTS
Police in Berkeley, California, on Monday said they made five arrests during Sunday night protests, when a crowd of more than 500 people hurled objects at police and a number of stores were looted. One protester who tried to prevent the looting was assaulted, police said.
The two nights of looting and rock-throwing on the West Coast contrasted with mostly peaceful demonstrations elsewhere around the United States following the decision not to indict New York Police Department officer Daniel Pantaleo for the July death of Garner, 43.
While no criminal charges have been brought, and Schneiderman’s request would not apply to the Garner case or any other case preceding the executive order he has sought, the NYPD is conducting an internal investigation into the case. The probe into whether Pantaleo broke any department rules could take four months, officials have said. The Justice Department is also investigating the case.
Smaller protests were held in Seattle, Chicago and Miami on Sunday.
The outcry over the recent killings spread to NFL stadiums as well. Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush was among several players donning pre-game practice jerseys reading “I can’t breathe,” Garner’s dying words.
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