NYC's police watchdog released a report criticizing the NYPD for failing to properly track where officers deployed during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. It also says the department did not equip officers with gear that made them easy to identify.
Officers took “pervasive and purposeful actions” to hide their identities, including putting bands over their shields and refusing to provide their names and shield numbers to civilians.
Officers refused to be interviewed virtually for several months when COVID restrictions prevented the CCRB from holding in-person interviews.The CCRB outlined more than a dozen recommendations for the police department, to improve its response to protests and make it easier for the agency to investigate complaints in the future. The NYPD is not required to follow them.All officers should go through updated training on crowd control tactics.
Body cameras should be turned on whenever officers are interacting with civilians, including when officers are in distress and call for help.The NYPD should set up medical treatment areas staffed with EMTs who can quickly treat injured people who are arrested, before they are taken to be processed.