ATTORNEYS AT LAW 260 MADISON AVENUE, 22ND FLOOR NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10016 TELEPHONE (212) 455-0300 FACSIMILE (212) 448-0066
November 10, 2016
BY FAX Police Commissioner James ONeil New York City Police Department 1 Police Plaza New York, NY 10007 Mayor Bill De Blasio City Hall New York, NY 10007 Dear Police Commission ONeil and Mayor De Blasio, Todays New York Daily News reports that, at one of last nights protests against the election of Donald Trump to the presidency, Police, some with their name-plates removed and wearing balaclavas to cover their faces, were seen taking several dozen protestors into custody outside the Trump International Hotel & Tower near Columbus Circle around 11:30 pm. (p. 8). We request that you look into this representation to determine if it is correct. Police officers should not, and we believe cannot remove their name plates, let alone disguise their identity by wearing balaclavas on the job. As far as we know, a police officers wearing of a balaclava to disguise his or her identity is unprecedented, a violation of NYPD policy and regulations, and is, in and of itself, extremely troubling. If the Daily News report is accurate, these officers need to be disciplined, of course with due process. Additionally, a memorandum should be sent to all NYPD employees informing them that this conduct is unacceptable, and that anyone who engages in such behavior will be held accountable. We look forward to your response. Thank you. Sincerely, Norman Siegel Herbert Teitelbaum
Suzannah B. Troy v NYPD, IAB, City of New York; New York City Commissioner Raymond Kelly; New York Police Department (NYPD) Internal Affairs BureauChief Campisi IAB ChiefNew York Police Department NYPD Deputy Inspector Winski, NYPD Lt Angelo Burgos, NYPD Sgt Chen, NYPD Detective John Vergona, NYPD Detective Andy Dwyer, NYPD IAB Integrity Unit Lt. Agnes, IAB Sgt. Mary O'Donnell