Gov’s Action Considered Hostile to Cops
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced he would issue an executive order, valid for one year, that would place his state’s Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, in charge of investigating and prosecuting police-involved killings, taking those cases out of the hands of district attorneys.
John Fleming, president of the NYC Detective Investigators Association
“We will be the first state in the country to acknowledge the problem and say we’re going to create an independent prosecutor who does not have that kind of connection with the organized police departments,” Cuomo said.
The Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, the union representing 24,000 patrol officers in the NYPD, called the executive order “unnecessary” and said it could lead to the indictment of officers “for the sake of public perception.”
John Fleming, president of the New York City Detective Investigators Association, the organization that represents all detectives working for the DA’s in the city’s five boroughs, sent to following letter to New York City newspapers. So far, there’s been no response. The NYC Detective Investigators Association is an official member of PubSecAlliance.
July 8, 2015
To the Editor:
In his rush to appease a certain faction of our society, Governor Cuomo has totally failed that group and in the process tarnished the reputation of every independently elected District Attorney in this State as well as the dedicated men and women who work in those offices.
As the president of the union which represents all detectives working for this City’s five District Attorneys’ and Special Narcotics Prosecutor I can attest first hand that each office has more than enough investigative resources to properly investigate such cases.
I also know that the job of a police officer is very difficult. Policing is a very complex profession in any state. On a typical day, an officer can encounter a citizen suffering from severe emotional or psychological distress, high on illicit drugs, or suffering the hopelessness of a number of socioeconomic problems. And let’s not forget the proliferation of guns on our street.
Does this act address any of those issues? Does it look to provide more resources to stopping gang violence? Does it provide any real solution to helping people whose socioeconomic position in life forces them into a life a crime? The answer is a simple no.
This governor is under the illusion that the communities have lost faith in our criminal justice system. That’s and odd statement to make when most District Attorney’s are routinely re-elected and many have excellent relationships with their community. Again, I can say that because we are a major part of that effort in New York City.
If this governor really wanted to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate a profession where there is a real lack of faith than all he has to do is look in his own backyard. Keep your hands off the dedicated men and women of law enforcement who risk their lives every day.
John M Fleming
President
NYC Detective Investigators Association
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