Photo Credit: Rena Schild // Shutterstock
On Monday, the NYPD said the time has come to place Officer Daniel Pantaleo on trial in the chokehold death of Eric Garner. A letter was sent to the Justice Department just one day before the four-year anniversary of Eric’s death. The NYPD has made it clear that if the feds did not publicly announce by Augusta 31 whether Pantaleo will be prosecuted, the department will serve him with departmental charges.
According to the Daily News, “Deputy Commissioner Lawrence Byrne, who runs the Police Department’s Legal Bureau and wrote the letter, said the decision was made because the Justice Department told the NYPD in the spring that its investigation was over. Justice Department officials previously had asked the NYPD not to proceed with any internal disciplinary proceeding until the feds finished their probe.”
Pantaleo’s lawyer had no comment; however, Patrick Lynch, head of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, says it is time to end “what has been a highly irregular fishing expedition by those seeking an indictment at all cost.” Eric’s family was notified about the letter before it was released to the media.
Source: Daily News
Written By: Fantasia Harvey