NYPD commissioner backs officer despite judge's firing recommendation

In New York City, on October 17, 2019, an incident during a traffic stop led to the death of 31-year-old Allan Feliz when NYPD officer Jonathan Rivera shot him. The police pulled Feliz over for not wearing a seatbelt and found that he had several outstanding warrants for minor offenses. As the officers attempted to detain Feliz, he resisted and attempted to flee in his vehicle. Rivera, who at that time was a sergeant, deployed his Taser and subsequently shot Feliz in the chest when he perceived that another officer's life was in imminent danger. This confrontation sparked significant public outcry. Following the incident, an internal NYPD trial judge determined that Rivera's actions constituted excessive force and recommended his termination. However, Commissioner Jessica Tisch disagreed with this recommendation and justified her decision by claiming that Rivera had made a split-second judgment in a fast-moving and dangerous situation. Tisch’s ruling was aligned with a 2020 inquiry by the state Attorney General Letitia James that concluded there was insufficient evidence to prosecute Rivera for the shooting. This decision indicated strong support for Rivera's position as he was later promoted to lieutenant. The response from Feliz's family and supporters was one of anger and disappointment, calling Tisch's decision politically motivated and an indication of the department's protective stance over its officers rather than a commitment to justice for the victim. They organized protests to voice their frustration, believing that the police should serve the community's interests and account for wrongful actions by officers. The disapproval from the family was compounded by the perception that oversight agencies are failing to hold officers accountable when it comes to serious misconduct. The incident drew significant media attention, highlighting broader conversations about police accountability, the use of force, and the complexities involved in assessing cases where officers utilize lethal measures in the line of duty. The call for changes in accountability measures and reform within the NYPD, as well as community perspectives on police conduct, remain pressing issues. As the Civilian Complaint Review Board reviews Tisch's decision, it will be crucial to observe how this influences future police oversight and public trust in law enforcement agencies.