April 16, 2008
After Lawsuits, NYPD Re-Evaulates Rough-Horsing Tactics
A pair of lawsuits from injured anti-war protesters have caused the NYPD to re-think its pro-active policing policies when it comes to crowd control. The suits, brought against the City by the New York Civil Liberties Union, ended in a settlement that included an agreement that cops would be a little more lenient with protesters.
The Sun reports police will now "advise mounted police officers to warn people to disperse before using horses to break up crowds." The suit had specifically pointed out incidents where protesters had avenues of escape blocked by police barricades and where people--including a woman in a wheelchair--were trampled by mounted cops.
An NYPD spokesperson said that verbal changes would be elaborated to established crowd control procedures. The settlement also ensured protesters would be provided avenues of escape and/or retreat when asked to disperse as well as the ability to leave and re-enter protest areas. NYCLU executive director Donna Lieberman said, "The right to protest without police interference is central to our democratic society, and this settlement is an important step towards assuring the NYPD will not be an obstacle to peaceful protest."
Mounted Police, by Pabo76 at flickr
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-NYCLU Attorneys’ fees of $100,000
-$10,000 to the estate of a participant in a protest who has died since the suit was filed in 2003.
-& Another participant in a protest, Jeremy Conrad, will receive $15,000.
Wow, what a waste of time for these people. 5 years of legal maneuvering and stress and the people who got trampled only ended up w/ 10-15k!!! in the end the NYPD will not change its heavy handed tactics and yet again the people injured get no relief...
"...this settlement is an important step towards assuring the NYPD will not be an obstacle to peaceful protest."
is she really that naive??
is anyone?
Why cops on horses in the 21st century? Seems to be antiquated concept. The city could save itself a lot of money and potential lawsuits by putting those animals out to pasture.
You're right drewo, but the only problem is they are waiting to get twenty years in so they can retire with a good pension for playing cowboy.
Oh, for the days when Sam McCloud would ride a horse through midtown.
Ah yes Dennis Weaver, the last honest cop that New York had. Kojak was legit also. So was Dirty Harry.
Video footage of the woman in the wheel chair getting trampled by the horses would be a public relations disaster for the NYPD and their four footed troopers.
Yanni Green lasers rulz
I hate cops on horses (Not just the NYPD Mounted). It is the worst method of crowd control. I think some of them get off on the idea that the ultimate use of their 4 legged weapon is to run into a crowd, mowing people down. Let's not forget about the horses, they actually have to work with cops all day! Yeesh.
Horses are actually pretty effective at moving masses of people in the direction you need to move them in.
I remember escorting a couple of out of towners to the New Years shindig in Times Square and while people will ignore a bunch of uni's telling them to move, bring in the horses and people get moving.
People will get the fuck out of the way when confronted with an animal that's 6 and a half feet tall at the withers.