NYCLU Statement on New NYPD Commissioner

NEW YORK – Today, Mayor de Blasio and the New York Police Department announced that James O’Neill resigned from his role as Commissioner. The Mayor also announced that the new Commissioner would be NYPD Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea.

The New York Civil Liberties Union released the following statement from Executive Director, Donna Lieberman:

“Commissioner O’Neill’s tenure at the NYPD has seen some steps towards progress. The number of stops and other officer-civilian interactions continues to decline, an important trend that must be sustained. And the Department has made sweeping changes in the role of police officers in schools, significantly limiting police authority to discipline students for minor misbehavior.

“Despite these steps of progress, trust between police officers and community members remains low, especially for Black and Brown New Yorkers. The continuation of broken windows criminalizes poverty and perpetuates the overpolicing of communities of color. Too often, officers’ failure to deescalate routine situations leads to violence. And when officers harm the very people they’re sworn to protect, many evade accountability, leaving New Yorkers left to wonder if officers are ever held responsible for their actions. As the NYPD enters its next phase of leadership, the Department must prioritize transparency, accountability, and repairing relationships with the people they serve.”