De Blasio Downplays Chokehold Report

Mayor Bill de Blasio found himself walking a tightrope on police issues again Monday after his Department of Investigation and NYPD Inspector General released a report critical of the NYPD's discipline process for use of force cases. The report found that the discipline of officers who use banned chokeholds has been uneven.

Asked about it at an unrelated press conference, De Blasio said he had not yet read the full report , but then sought to downplay its significance. He stressed its narrow scope, noting that it covered just 10 chokehold cases investigated by the Civilian Complaint Review Board from 2009 – 2014.

“I think it raises a question about how to create consistency in whatever process is undertaken once a complaint it filed. But I don't want to overstate the scope of the report or suggest that it refers to the current moment,” said de Blasio.

The mayor, who has been walking a fine line between his progressive base and his angry police force, said the document focused on the past.

“I think the report will be another part of the discussion in this city, but I believe from what I've seen so far it refers to things that have already begun to change,” de Blasio said, citing a recent reduction in CCRB complaints and the current retraining of the NYPD.

This is the first report by the NYPD Inspector General, an appointee of the Department of Investigation Commissioner. The DOI Commissioner is a mayoral appointee.

DOI Commissioner Mark Peters and IG Philip Eure were scheduled to discuss the report on the Brian Lehrer Show Monday morning, but canceled shortly before the segment, citing "pressing law enforcement issues."

De Blasio has been battling the police unions over his support for the rank-and-file.

Though he downplayed the report’s findings, advocates said the mayor needs to actually implement the recommendations.

Priscilla Gonzalez, Organizing Director of Communities United for Police Reform, praised the report in a statement and urged the mayor and police commissioner to make sure officers who use excessive force face “real and timely consequences.”

Councilmember Rory Lancman has a proposed a bill to make chokeholds a criminal misdemeanor, which goes beyond NYPD policy.

“For years it has been NYPD internal policy to prohibit the use of chokeholds. Period. Full stop. That hasn't worked. We still chokeholds being used all too frequently sometimes to fatal affect,” said Lancman.

His bill has 29 co-sponsors. He does not have the mayor's support.