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NYPD Judge Says Officer Pantaleo Should Be Fired for Killing Eric Garner

HeadlineAug 05, 2019

In New York City, an administrative judge for the New York Police Department recommended Friday that Daniel Pantaleo, the officer who killed Eric Garner in 2014 by using an illegal chokehold, be fired. Pantaleo held Garner, an unarmed African-American man, in the chokehold until he dropped to the ground, despite gasping “I can’t breathe” 11 times. Pantaleo was suspended following the recommendation, but NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill will make the final decision on whether or not to fire him. Pantaleo has remained on the police force on desk duty since the killing. A New York grand jury decided in 2014 not to charge him, and last month the Justice Department said he would also not face federal charges. Eric Garner’s daughter, Emerald Garner Snipes, spoke out after the judge’s recommendation was made public.

Emerald Garner Snipes: “This has been a long battle, five years too long. And finally somebody has said that there’s some information that this cop has done something wrong. We’ve waited five years. CCRB [Civilian Complaint Review Board] has made the recommendation. Commissioner O’Neill, fire Pantaleo.”

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