Ending a case that has been a prominent issue in the national “Black Lives Matter” movement, the New York City policeman whose actions caused the death of Eric Garner in 2014 has been fired.
Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed Garner in an illegal chokehold while arresting him in July 2014 for selling loose cigarettes on the street. Garner died of asphyxiation.
Pantaleo will not face any criminal charges, but NYPD brass accepted the recommendation of an administrative judge earlier this month that he be fired. (NBC News)
Hot Takes:
- The PBA is upset about this, but Pantaleo isn’t being charged with a crime. He’s being fired for disobeying departmental regulations about excessive force.
- Cops are going to be wary about arresting people — especially big, strong guys like Eric Garner — if they have to worry about losing their jobs for trying to subdue suspects.
- It’s hard to believe it took five years to get to this decision.