Officially accountable for five fatalities within NYPD custody this year, questioned are the guardians themselves: who is ensuring the police maintain accountability?
In a shocking turn of events, at least five individuals have lost their lives in New York Police Department (NYPD) custody this year, according to data tracked by the Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation. This troubling trend has led to a call for action from the Legal Aid Society, who describe these deaths as "unacceptable and unconscionable."
One of the most recent tragic incidents involved Christopher Nieves, a 46-year-old man who died in a Brooklyn courthouse holding cell after being arrested for shoplifting food. Nieves appeared jaundiced and was barely conscious, yet was not taken to the hospital and passed away hours later.
Another case, Soso Ramishvili, was arrested for shoplifting in March, and later died in NYPD custody. The name of the man who died in July after being stopped for fare evasion and arrested for drug possession remains undisclosed.
The death toll at Rikers Island is also on the rise, with any death there triggering a full investigation by the Board of Correction. However, deaths in NYPD custody do not automatically trigger an investigation. The Department of Investigation (DOI) can investigate at will, but needs a formal mandate from the mayor, City Council, or the city's Conflict of Interest Board to do so.
The attorney general's office is conducting a preliminary assessment of all five deaths in NYPD custody this year, but has not yet determined if they fall under the AG's jurisdiction. City medical examiners have ruled that two of this year's five deaths - those of Saniyah Cheatham and Musa Cetin - were suicides. The causes of death for Nieves and the yet-unidentified man who died in March have not been determined.
The Legal Aid Society is urging the DOI to review all deaths in NYPD custody and collaborate with the Civilian Complaint Review Board to publish findings. They criticize NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch's focus on quality-of-life enforcement, arguing that it may contribute to the escalation of situations leading to these tragic outcomes.
Other cities, such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Denver, and Seattle, have independent oversight agencies that immediately investigate any police custody death. The DOI can assist the state attorney general in examining whether NYPD policies and procedures are properly followed.
As the number of deaths in NYPD custody continues to rise, it is clear that action is needed to ensure the safety and well-being of those in police custody. The Legal Aid Society's call for the DOI to investigate all such deaths and publish findings is a step towards accountability and transparency. Only through understanding the circumstances surrounding these tragedies can we work towards preventing them in the future.
The CCRB did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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