The questionable handling of suspects by the New York Police Department in the city has been put on the spotlight when an asthmatic individual had died while officers were trying to arrest him last week.
A pair of videos courtesy of bystanders filmed father of six Eric Garner being arrested by police officers on suspicion that he has been selling loose cigarettes. One of the videos showed him pleading to authorities that he cannot breathe after one of them had wrapped his arm around the former's throat. Garner eventually stopped struggling after the altercation. The other video showed neglect from a number of paramedics who have failed to administer emergency aid for the suspect.
Buzzfeed cited the NYPD use of force guidelines from 2013's NYPD Patrol Guide, which clearly states that police officers are prohibited from using chokeholds as it could kill suspects. The officer who was seen in the video wrapping his arms on Garner, Daniel Pantaleo, had been stripped off his gun and badge. The fire department has subsequently suspended four ambulance medics. Both NYPD and the fire department are conducting probes to determine whether proper procedures have been made.
For some who questioned why excessive force was done on Garner, Police Commissioner William Bratton said that New York City is committed to the "broken windows" theory of policing, which means authorities could prosecute minor crimes like vandalism with a zero tolerance approach to curb future increase of criminal behavior.
"Broken windows-quality of life (policing) will remain an essential component," Bratton was quoted as saying.
Bratton has since said that the NYPD would have to be retrained on proper use of force, Buzzfeed said. On the other hand, the police commissioner also stressed that race is not a factor in Garner's death, rejecting critics' claim that the "broken windows" theory is racist.
