NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch faces a critical test in her handling of disciplinary charges against Officer Wayne Isaacs, who fatally shot an unarmed man, Delrawn Small, in 2016. The case has taken an unprecedented circuitous path through the courts and city's disciplinary system, with Isaacs previously being acquitted by a grand jury.
A recent letter signed by dozens of elected officials, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Comptroller Brad Lander, urges Tisch to reject Judge Rosemarie Maldonado's recommendation to dismiss the charges. The lawmakers argue that a dismissal would be a gross miscarriage of justice, sending a dangerous message about police accountability as New York enters a new mayoral administration under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
The case revolves around a road-rage incident in East New York, where Isaacs claimed Small had threatened him and punched through his car window. However, video footage shows that Small was unarmed when he was shot three times by Isaacs within two seconds of reaching the driver-side window.
Isaacs was initially indicted for murder and manslaughter, charges that were prosecuted by the state attorney general's office. He was acquitted in 2017, but after his acquittal, the NYPD cleared him of wrongdoing and returned him to full duty. In 2017, Small's girlfriend sued the city for wrongful death in federal court, with Isaacs arguing he should be indemnified by the city due to his actions being considered within the scope of his employment as a police officer.
However, the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), the city's official police oversight body, substantiated three new charges of improper use of force against Isaacs in 2020. The union representing Isaacs and the police argued that he was not acting as a police officer during the shooting and therefore should not be disciplined as one.
The CCRB responded to Judge Maldonado's decision by asking her to reconsider, citing a 2017 federal lawsuit where Isaacs argued he was entitled to city indemnification due to his actions being within the performance of his duties. The CCB spokesperson stated that Isaacs allegedly didn't invoke his authority as a police officer during the encounter, despite claiming it in court.
Now, with a new administration taking office, Tisch's decision on whether to allow the disciplinary trial to proceed could signal a significant shift in the city's approach to police accountability. If she rejects Maldonado's recommendation and allows the case to move forward, it would suggest that the hopes of advocates for greater civilian oversight of police discipline may finally be realized under Mamdani's administration.
However, if Tisch follows Judge Maldonado's recommendation, it could indicate a continued reluctance to hold officers accountable for their actions. The NYPD spokesperson stated that the disciplinary process remains ongoing, but no further details were provided on the next steps in the case.
Ultimately, Tisch's handling of this case will provide valuable insight into how she and the incoming Mamdani administration plan to address police accountability issues in New York City, particularly those involving jurisdictional disputes that have allowed cases to languish for years.
A recent letter signed by dozens of elected officials, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and Comptroller Brad Lander, urges Tisch to reject Judge Rosemarie Maldonado's recommendation to dismiss the charges. The lawmakers argue that a dismissal would be a gross miscarriage of justice, sending a dangerous message about police accountability as New York enters a new mayoral administration under Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
The case revolves around a road-rage incident in East New York, where Isaacs claimed Small had threatened him and punched through his car window. However, video footage shows that Small was unarmed when he was shot three times by Isaacs within two seconds of reaching the driver-side window.
Isaacs was initially indicted for murder and manslaughter, charges that were prosecuted by the state attorney general's office. He was acquitted in 2017, but after his acquittal, the NYPD cleared him of wrongdoing and returned him to full duty. In 2017, Small's girlfriend sued the city for wrongful death in federal court, with Isaacs arguing he should be indemnified by the city due to his actions being considered within the scope of his employment as a police officer.
However, the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), the city's official police oversight body, substantiated three new charges of improper use of force against Isaacs in 2020. The union representing Isaacs and the police argued that he was not acting as a police officer during the shooting and therefore should not be disciplined as one.
The CCRB responded to Judge Maldonado's decision by asking her to reconsider, citing a 2017 federal lawsuit where Isaacs argued he was entitled to city indemnification due to his actions being within the performance of his duties. The CCB spokesperson stated that Isaacs allegedly didn't invoke his authority as a police officer during the encounter, despite claiming it in court.
Now, with a new administration taking office, Tisch's decision on whether to allow the disciplinary trial to proceed could signal a significant shift in the city's approach to police accountability. If she rejects Maldonado's recommendation and allows the case to move forward, it would suggest that the hopes of advocates for greater civilian oversight of police discipline may finally be realized under Mamdani's administration.
However, if Tisch follows Judge Maldonado's recommendation, it could indicate a continued reluctance to hold officers accountable for their actions. The NYPD spokesperson stated that the disciplinary process remains ongoing, but no further details were provided on the next steps in the case.
Ultimately, Tisch's handling of this case will provide valuable insight into how she and the incoming Mamdani administration plan to address police accountability issues in New York City, particularly those involving jurisdictional disputes that have allowed cases to languish for years.
A diagram of a person in a circle with an arrow pointing outwards would represent how this case is showing a critical turning point 
. On the other hand, if she rejects it and allows the trial to proceed, it could indicate that the new admin is serious about making real changes 
. The CCRB's response to Judge Maldonado's decision was a good point, and I think it highlights the importance of following through on investigations 
. If she doesn't, it could be seen as a message that the system is still rigged against civilians 
, and the law still hasn't caught up with him fully. If the NYPD commissioner decides to dismiss the charges now, it could be seen as a huge letdown for the community who was seeking justice for their loved ones 
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i don't know how else to say it - the whole thing feels like a total farce. we need real accountability here, not just some half-baked attempts at reform that end up doing more harm than good 
. I mean, if elected officials are bailing out on this case, what does that say about accountability? It's all just a big game of cat and mouse, with the city trying to avoid taking responsibility for their own failures 
. Like, if he's not sure, then why did he claim it in court? It just reeks of trying to cover their own behinds 
. I'm all for police reform and accountability, but sometimes you gotta wonder if they're really serious about making changes or if it's just a PR stunt 
. Tisch needs to do what's right here and make sure justice is served 
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I just feel like we're stuck in this never-ending cycle of "oh no, let's not punish the cop" vs. "but he did break the law!"