Press Releases

For immediate release: August 1, 2017

Police Reform Campaign Responds to NYPD Killing Dwayne Jeune

In response to the killing of Dwayne Jeune, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Carolyn Martinez-Class.

For immediate release: June 28, 2017

Communities United for Police Reform and Justice Committee Respond to CCRB Report on Hundreds of New Yorkers Prevented from Filming NYPD by Officer Misconduct

In response to a report released by the CCRB documenting hundreds of complaints and instances where NYPD officers interfered with New Yorkers’ First Amendment rights to document policing activity during the first 3 years of the de Blasio administration, Communities United for Police Reform and the Justice Committee released the following statements.

For immediate release: June 8, 2017

Advocates Applaud Assembly Passage of Police-STAT Act, Call on Senate to Advance Transparency Bill to Ensure Justice & Safety for Communities across New York

In response to the New York State Assembly passing the Police-STAT Act (A.5946/S.147) on Thursday, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Kesi Foster.

For immediate release: May 15, 2017

Ramarley Graham’s Mother Accuses NYPD of Seeking to Strike Backroom Deal Allowing Other Officers Involved in Son’s Killing to Avoid Departmental Prosecution and Retire

Sergeant Scott Morris and Officer John McLoughlin were charged by NYPD in 2012, yet still no trial date has been scheduled for either

Approaching 2 months after Richard Haste resigned, delays are indication that NYPD is pursuing same deal it attempted to offer Haste: retirement with pension as way to avoid public trial into NYPD misconduct

For immediate release: April 27, 2017

CPR Criticizes Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner O’Neill for Advancing Inferior Body Camera Policy That Undermines Transparency

In response to the NYPD beginning the court-mandated body camera pilot program with an NYPD policy that disregarded public input and best transparency practices, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Shelby Chestnut.

“Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner O’Neill have disregarded the public’s demands for police accountability by advancing an inferior and regressive body camera policy that undermines transparency and accountability. There’s no excuse for New York City to have a second-rate policy that omits recording of critical policing encounters, protects abusive cops rather than the public, and obstructs New Yorkers' access to footage while allowing officers control and access – even when they are the subject of police brutality complaints.

For immediate release: April 25, 2017

Advocates Call for NYC Officials to Address Role of NYPD in Fueling Deportations & Incarceration

Mothers of New Yorkers killed by NYPD, community members urge end to policing policies & practices that feed New Yorkers into criminal justice and immigration enforcement systems

 

New Yorkers call for end to broken windows policing and passage of Right to Know Act to curb police abuses that target communities of color and immigrants
 

Elected officials and community leaders called for local actions to address abusive policing practices as proactive measures to fight against the Trump administration’s immigration and law enforcement agenda and advance consensus criminal justice reform goals. The group, including members of Communities United for Police Reform and the mothers of New Yorkers killed by the NYPD, specifically urged passage of the Right to Know Act by the New York City Council and an end to discriminatory “broken windows” policing.

For immediate release: April 20, 2017

Community Groups & New Yorkers Directly Impacted by Abusive Policing File Legal Opposition to NYPD’s Body Camera Policy

Groups urge court to intervene, halt body camera pilot program unless major changes are made to dangerous flaws in policy that impair transparency and accountability

Community members were joined by civil rights attorneys for plaintiffs in lawsuit that produced body camera pilot program, who also filed opposition to NYPD policy


Together with community groups representing New Yorkers directly impacted by abusive policing, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) announced the filing of legal opposition to the NYPD’s proposed body camera policy.

For immediate release: April 12, 2017

Ramarley Graham's Mother & Supporting Organizations Announce Lawsuit against NYPD

Group seeks court to force compliance with Freedom of Information Law in release of information on multiple officers’ misconduct, as some NYPD documents released indicate attempted cover-up in 2012

Family and supporters demand start of NYPD trials against Sergeant Scott Morris and Officer John McLoughlin, who were charged in 2012, and that they be fired, not allowed to resign like Richard Haste

For immediate release: April 7, 2017

CPR Responds to NYPD Body Camera Policy

In response to the NYPD releasing its final body camera policy for approval by the court, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) released the following statement by spokesperson Mandela Jones.

“The NYPD’s newly released body camera policy fails New Yorkers and police transparency – it won’t help address police brutality, abuses and unjust killings of New Yorkers. Body cameras are no solution or substitute for accountability, but they can enhance transparency – however critical flaws in the policy undermine efforts to hold police accountable for brutality, and instead provide mechanisms to protect abusive officers instead of the public.
For immediate release: March 30, 2017

CPR Responds to Court Decision on City’s Appeal of Lower Court Ruling That City Should Release Pantaleo’s CCRB Misconduct Summary

In response to a court ruling today in an appeal by the de Blasio administration to a previous lower court ruling that it should release the CCRB misconduct summary of NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who killed Eric Garner, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from spokesperson Loyda Colon, Co-Director of the Justice Committee.

“The failures and inconsistencies of this administration on police reform and protecting our communities from police brutality become worse and worse every day. If the de Blasio administration believes in police transparency, their actions need to start matching their rhetoric. The de Blasio administration turned its back on our communities and police transparency when it decided to change policy related to disciplinary trial outcomes and police misconduct records, and then appeal the first court’s ruling that it release a summary of substantiated misconduct complaints against Pantaleo.

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