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Cop Seen Punching Teens On Subway Platform Will Remain On-Duty During Investigation
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Jake Offenhartz
Published Oct 29, 2019
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By
Jake Offenhartz
Published Oct 29, 2019
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The NYPD officer seen punching two teenagers on a Brooklyn subway platform this weekend—who also has a history of alleged brutality—will remain on-duty during a department review into his violent conduct, police said.
The unnamed officer was one of several cops who responded to a fight between groups of young people at Jay-Street Metrotech on Saturday, police said. Video shows the officer punching two teenagers in the face during the confrontation, including one who did not appear to be involved in the scuffle.
“I thought his actions were inappropriate and I believe the police department should have immediately placed him on modified assignment," said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a former cop, during a press conference on Monday.
A spokesperson for the NYPD said the officer would be placed in a "non-enforcement assignment" while the review is ongoing, but that his duty status would not change. The Civilian Complaint Review Board has confirmed that they've received a complaint about the incident and will initiate their own investigation.
Police sources told the Post that the officer has been transferred from the 84th Precinct to the Brooklyn detective squad. He's had multiple complaints filed against him by the Civilian Complaint Review Board, including for past instances of excessive force, the source said.
The officer's name is being withheld under New York City's highly restrictive 50-a statute, which bars the release of police disciplinary records and other personnel information.
The names of the teenagers involved in the confrontation, meanwhile, are public information. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez has charged three people—ranging in age from 16 to 18—with resisting arrest, obstruction of governmental administration, and disorderly conduct.
Asked whether the officer's conduct and history of alleged brutality would impact the decision to prosecute, a spokesperson for the D.A.'s office declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
In response to backlash to Saturday's incident, as well as another violent arrest of a teenager on a subway on Friday, elected officials and advocates gathered Monday to call on Governor Andrew Cuomo to cancel a plan to add 500 new MTA police officers to the transit system. The officers will be tasked with cracking down on fare evasion and other low-level crimes.
"More police will not address the management crisis in the subways," said Darlene Jackson, a Riders Alliance member from the Bronx, during a protest outside City Hall on Monday.
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams suggested the influx of cops was an attempt by Cuomo to best Mayor Bill de Blasio. "I know you always want to top the mayor," Williams said. "He thinks sending more police will top him."
While Adams said that he supports the addition of new cops, he called for the MTA officers to be equipped with body cameras, which they are not currently required to wear. "We would not have known what happened if the video was not shown, so we should not have state troopers in the subway system that are not willing to wear cameras," Adams said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Adams will host a Know Your Rights training to educate young people on how to interact with police at Brooklyn Borough Hall.
Additional reporting by Ariama Long and Shumita Basu
Tagged
police brutality
jumaane williams
nypd
CCRB
subway
eric adams
50-a
Jake Offenhartz
Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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