NYPD Orders 35K Cops To Be Retrained in Wake of Eric Garner’s Death

Commissioner Bill Bratton has ordered all of the NYPD 35,000 cops to be retrained in how they use force following the ‘chokehold’ death of Eric Garner, according to the New York Daily News.

Eric Garner, 43, died in Staten Island during an arrest last week after being held down and handcuffed by off-duty cop Daniel Pantaleo.

Disturbing video footage shows Garner, who was accused of selling illegal cigarettes, struggling on the pavement saying ‘I can’t breathe’ before going unconscious.

Bratton said Garner’s death was ‘very tragic’ and ordered Deputy Commissioner of Training Benjamin Tucker to conduct a ‘top-to-bottom’ review of officers’ training.

According to the New York Daily News, Bratton is looking for inspiration from the Los Angeles Police Department’s ‘state of the art’ training which was set up after the immigration rallies in 2007.

The commissioner, who met with FBI officials following Garner’s death, said he anticipated a civil suit by the family and ‘would not be surprised if the U.S. attorney ‘decides to open a civil rights violation investigation.’

An initial memo of Eric Garner’s death released earlier this week did not mention the chokehold, claiming he ‘was not in great distress’ and his health ‘did not get worse’ as he was held down.

The NYPD officers involved have been put on desk duty while the 4 EMT workers who responded to the scene have been suspended without pay. On Wednesday, family and friends, mourned the Staten Island man who they called the “Gentle Giant” at Bethel Baptist Church in Brooklyn.

Source : New York Daily News, Daily Mail