Five years ago, in the wake of protests following George Floyd’s killing, NYPD detective Jason Ragoo was brought into the spotlight for his actions during a curfew in Lower Manhattan.
Video footage shows Ragoo forcefully jabbing his baton into the ribs of a female protester, an incident that was part of a larger pattern of police behavior during a turbulent period marked by widespread demonstrations and numerous complaints against the NYPD.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) reported receiving over a thousand complaints of excessive force connected to these protests, and yet a review reveals that the results of the investigations often lacked severe consequences for the officers involved.
Despite the gravity of the incidents, the NYPD’s response to complaints about officers like Ragoo has frequently consisted of minor disciplinary actions, such as “instructions” on proper policing tactics.
Out of 1,052 complaints about excessive force filed during the protests, only 66 cases were deemed severe enough to warrant significant penalties, which might include a loss of vacation days.
Shockingly, only five officers faced penalties of more than ten lost days, while 40 percent — 26 officers — faced no discipline whatsoever.
The interim chair of the CCRB, Dr. Mohammad Khalid, expressed his concerns about the department’s low rates of punishment for excessive force used against protesters.
“As we reflect on the five years since George Floyd’s murder, the low rate of discipline for officers found to have used excessive force at protests remains both disappointing and concerning,” he stated.
The case of Officer Brian Mahon stands out as one of the rare occasions where significant action was taken.
After being found guilty of using excessive force, Mahon received a year of probation and the loss of 40 vacation days as part of a plea deal.
However, shortly after completing his probation, Mahon was promoted to detective, raising questions about accountability within the department.
The NYPD’s reluctance to impose harsh penalties is further illustrated by its handling of the Ragoo incident.
Initially investigated by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, the case was ultimately closed by then-Commissioner Dermot Shea, who cited Ragoo’s prior punishment in the form of directives on appropriate force usage.
The video shows Ragoo taking a female protester to the ground and striking her with his baton, a move that remains troubling given the surrounding context of public outrage and tension.
While Ragoo claims to have reacted to being interfered with by another individual, the CCRB’s investigation found that this assertion was not corroborated by available evidence.
Although Jillian Snider, a former NYPD officer, noted that the situation must be viewed through the lens of the high tension experienced by officers during the protests, many advocates argue that police responses were unnecessarily aggressive.
The historical context in which police conducted themselves during the Floyd protests cannot be overlooked.
While many protests remained peaceful, some escalated, resulting in injuries to officers and property damage, establishing a “free-for-all” atmosphere, as described by City Councilmember Bob Holden.
However, the dynamics of such situations do not excuse excessive force, advocates suggest.
The NYPD’s internal process for handling allegations of misconduct has long been criticized for its apparent leniency.
Former Police Commissioner Edward Caban was noted for rejecting disciplinary recommendations from the CCRB, including cases that resulted in major incidents during the protests.
The criticisms around the NYPD’s oversight mechanisms echo concerns that have persisted over decades, fueling the calls for police reforms that gained momentum in 2020.
Caban’s controversial actions reinforced the trust issues already prevalent between communities heavily policed and the department.
The outcry following the Floyd protests led to investigations and lawsuits, highlighting the necessity for a more accountable policing approach.
Notably, the city admitted to issues in its policing strategies during a tumultuous time, with Mayor Bill de Blasio acknowledging that strategic choices made were detrimental.
In a significant step towards reform, the NYPD has now settled a lawsuit from New York Attorney General Letitia James regarding its handling of protest-related incidents.
Moving forward, the department is under obligation to adjust its protest management tactics, including banning controversial strategies like “kettling.”
These changes are expected to bring a more measured response during protests, utilizing a tiered approach rather than deploying full force.
Despite this progress, remaining challenges linger for the NYPD.
The settlement’s provisions also emphasize the need to account for misconduct during protests, adequately addressing the context of officers penalizing individuals expressing their First Amendment rights.
The ongoing lack of transparent disciplinary processes and the slow implementation of reforms indicate that many advocates continue to fear the department is not adequately addressing its history of excessive force.
Advocates have also critiqued the NYPD’s record of overlooking CCRB findings and manipulating disciplinary recommendations.
Lydia Colon, executive director of the Justice Committee, highlighted that the current administration regularly undermines complaints and disciplines procedures, which continues to affect accountability.
Reevaluation of how disciplinary processes are managed within the NYPD has thus taken on new importance as the department looks to rebuild trust with communities.
The report from the Department of Investigation in late 2020 emphasized that leadership failures, alongside individual officer actions, were key factors escalating unrest during the protests.
The report also emphasized that unless the NYPD embraces stronger collaborative measures with the CCRB, mistrust would likely persist.
Overall, the past five years have shown that reforming police methods requires a committed focus on fairness and accountability, especially in the wake of public outcries against excessive force.
As the NYPD takes steps toward adjustments in policy and training, time will determine how effectively these changes can reduce tensions and foster a healthier relationship between the police and the communities they serve.
Although significant reforms remain underway, advocates continue to push for accountability measures that align with the community’s demand for justice, ensuring that lessons from the protests are not forgotten.
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