Five years after Eric Garner’s death, his killer, police officer Daniel Pantaleo, has been fired. The Daily Beast was first to report the news, citing a senior law-enforcement official.
Pantaleo’s lawyers will appeal.
New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill will announce on Monday that NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo has been fired, the official said. O’Neill terminated Pantaleo, 34, after it was determined he violated department policy by restraining Garner with a prohibited chokehold in 2014.
An administrative judge previously recommended Pantaleo’s termination following an internal disciplinary trial. The judge, a deputy commissioner, found Pantaleo was “untruthful” during interviews with investigators and had “recklessly used force” during the fatal encounter.
Pantaleo had not faced official sanction for his actions until now, only being placed on desk duty. The Justice Department in July declined to charge Pantaleo with violating Garner’s civil rights. A Staten Island grand jury in 2014 declined to indict Pantaleo.
New: Pantaleo will appeal the decision under article 78.
— Shawn Cohen (@spccohen) August 19, 2019
[via Pervaizistan, image: shutterstock]