New York is fundamentally reforming the police: what will change in the work of law enforcement

As part of the reform, police officers will be prohibited from using strangleholds during arrest and will be obliged to wear video cameras, and complaints about cops will be made public. The governor said "this is just the beginning" and thanked those "who have advocated for change for years." The details were shared by the edition "Voice of America".

“This is just the beginning.”

The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, signed a regulation on June 12 that introduced significant changes to the state police. The package of measures for which parliament had voted the day before was taken amid protests that erupted after the death of African American George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd died as a result of a police officer holding him for almost nine minutes with his foot on the man’s neck. The death of a black American led to mass rebellions against the arbitrariness of the police and racism.

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After the reform was approved, Cuomo thanked those who had advocated change for years. “To all the activists and supporters who have advocated this year after year. To everyone who took part in the procession, demanding justice during the last weeks. Thank. Your votes have brought real change, the governor wrote in Twitter... - Numerous voices calling for and demanding justice have been heard. This is just the beginning. "

What will change as part of the reform?

As part of this reform, policemen are prohibited from using asphyxiation against detainees. If this technique is applied and leads to the wound or death of the detainee, the police run the risk of receiving a sentence of imprisonment of up to 15 years.

The reform also introduces a requirement to disclose information about police complaints and expands the power to take legal action against those who illegally call the police.

In addition, the prosecutor’s office will have more authority to investigate deaths during police actions; law enforcement officers themselves will be obliged to carry video cameras.

By a separate decree, Cuomo introduced the requirement to develop modernization plans for nearly 500 police stations in New York. Plans should be formed by April 2021, otherwise the police departments may be left without government funding.

The reaction of the authorities and the public

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with FoxNews that he is "generally" opposed to the use of pressure by the police on the neck. “I think it would be very good if it stopped altogether,” Trump said. However, he added that this technique may be appropriate in some situations.

The New York State Police Union criticized Cuomo’s decision. They said that because of the reform, "the police will not be able to do their job." The union also opposed the publication of complaints against police officers, saying that this could complicate the work of the police.

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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio supported the repeal of Regulation 50-A, which prevented the release of police complaints. He stated that it is a "joyous day" and is "the culmination of years of work to reverse the trend and end the 50-A rule." “This is a huge step towards accountability,” he wrote in Twitter.

The protesters also demanded “refinance the police,” which the New York City Council responded by demanding a reduction of the $ 6 billion police budget by $ 1 billion. However, the mayor did not support such an initiative. He believes that a significant reduction in costs will not benefit security in the metropolis.

Other US regions are also undergoing changes in police reform. Minneapolis city officials, where the assassination of George Floyd took place, have announced massive police reform. The governor of California criticized the use of asphyxiation by police, saying that they "have no place in the XNUMXst century." The Iowa Governor signed a decree banning such receptions.

As previously wrote ForumDaily New York:

• Earlier in New York the law was passedrestricting the power of the police.
• Against the background of protests and criticism of the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio promised cut back on police funding.
• It was also reported that in New York police officers punished for cruelty to the protesters. In response to this reaction from the authorities, all employees of the unit of the accused resigned.