The string of laws the Democratic governor ratified was denounced by a coalition of unions representing many of the state’s police forces, but Andrew Cuomo believes the reforms were necessary to protect the black minority. The truth is that this police reform is long overdue and the murder of [George] Floyd is just the most recent murder
, he replied.
Unions such as the New York Police Benevolent Association believe they are victims of an anti-police campaign.
Photo : AFP / Timothy A. Clary
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The governor also announced that his state would no longer subsidize the police forces of municipalities that refuse to adopt measures against police violence by April 1, 2021. He has announced his intention to adopt another decree obliging municipalities at reinvent and modernize
police practices that can foster systemic racism in collaboration with their communities. This decree covers around 500 police forces.
We are not, as a state government, going to subsidize inappropriate police tactics
, decided categorically Andrew Cuomo. If there is no trust, the community is not going to allow the police to police. And there is no trust. Or there is a loophole in that trust and it needs to be restored and fixed.
Banned suffocation techniques
Screen grab from the viral video in which we see police officer Derek Chauvin immobilizing George Floyd by pressing one knee on his neck.
Photo : Associated Press / Darnella Frazier
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Not surprisingly, suffocation techniques are outlawed by one of the new measures adopted. They had already been banned for several years by the New York City police, but this ban was not widespread. Police officers using this method or other equally dangerous practices will now face up to 15 years in prison if they kill or injure a citizen.
President Donald Trump, who in the following hours ruled out the possibility of banning the practice nationwide, however gave his blessing to New York lawmakers and recommended other local governments to do the same, during an interview with Fox News. A very strong recommendation
, he specified. However, he called for tolerance towards the police who use this type of method, believing that it is sometimes necessary
.
Sometimes if you are alone and you have a fight with someone, it is difficult. If that person finds himself in a strangulation situation, what are you going to do? What if he’s a really bad person? You know it, and they exist. I mean, there are some really bad people.
More responsible police officers
New York state lawmakers have also chosen to end the confidentiality of police officers’ disciplinary records. According to a law passed in 1976, disciplinary records of police, firefighters and correctional officers could not be shared or disseminated without their consent. This law was passed to limit legal remedies against them and to protect them from the People’s Court.
This is also one of the measures that most disturb the unions, who say they fear that the reputation of police officers is tainted by sometimes unfounded complaints appearing in their file, without the latter being able to defend themselves. They argue that a judge could already authorize the disclosure of a specific case when necessary.
New York City Police have taken the lead in recent years by equipping thousands of police and first responders with response cameras.
Photo : Getty Images / Andrew Burton
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Other reforms announced include the mandatory wearing of an intervention camera by police officers and a requirement to complete a report within six hours of using their firearm, whenever a person could. have been hit intentionally or by a stray bullet. The state attorney general is also given additional responsibilities to investigate and crack down on civilians killed by police.
Give the example
We are showing the nation what to do. We lead by example. Talking is not enough. It is not enough to be angry. It is not enough to be emotional.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh chose the same day to announce that his city’s police department had initiated a review of its training programs to better teach officers the best practices to avoid and encourage them to intervene. to put an end to any excessive use of force by their colleagues. Some controversial practices, such as hair analysis for drug use, are also being abolished.
Mayor Walsh also announced that he was requisitioning $ 3 million from police budgets and spending that money on public health.
A recent report by the United States Civil Liberties Union called on Boston to cut funding for its oversized police service and invest more in crime prevention and police training.
Photo : Getty Images / Spencer Platt
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Changes in Minneapolis
Minneapolis City Council – where George Floyd was killed – announced unanimously that it approved a resolution calling for a major reform of its police department. so that every member of the community can be truly safe
.
To achieve this, the City has announced the creation of a task force to develop proposals by July 24. This group is made up of representatives of the police and several local authorities, such as the Department of Human Rights and the Office of Violence Prevention. Groups specializing in relations between communities also participate and all citizens wishing to do the same are invited to join.
The reform process will take a year, the city council warned, and the city will retain its police department as well as its current chief. Last Sunday, the majority of Minneapolis elected officials said they wanted to dismantle a police department structurally racist
, but they have since been persuaded that reform was possible.
Domestically, the Democratic majority in Congress on Monday introduced a series of similar measures against police brutality, including a complete ban on smothering techniques and the creation of a national registry of police misconduct.
This reform is still under study, but does not seem to be on the way to convincing the Republicans, who control the Senate as well as the White House and who openly criticized it. Failure of this reform would not affect the ability of cities and states to legislate, however, and Andrew Cuomo hopes his example will be followed by all his counterparts.
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