Current Events > Albany Police union responds to "inflammatory" chokehold ban

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://cbs6albany.com/amp/news/local/albany-police-officers-union-responds-to-inflammatory-executive-order-banning-chokeholds

The Albany Police Officer's Union had some harsh words in response to police reforms brought about by an executive order signed by Mayor Kathy Sheehan.

Mayor Kathy Sheehan signed an executive order Monday, declaring changes in policy for the Albany Police Department. These reforms included an express ban on knee-to-neck holds and other various chokeholds, along with a policy requiring officers to review the history of racism and systemic violence in policy.

Tuesday, Gregory McGee, President of The Albany Police Officers Union sent a letter to the Mayor in response to the executive order.

The letter opens by saying, in part, that the order "insulted every hard working police officer in the County of Albany."

The letter goes on to criticize the Mayor's "inflammatory" language when speaking about police across the country, and the treatment on minorities on a systematic level.

Additionally, the letter rebukes the necessity of banning chokeholds, citing a 2014 policy change that "specifically mentions not using these tactics." The letter expresses the belief that the Mayor's language in the order implies such methods of restraining suspects were common place, which they say is false.

"You failed to mention the trainings every member of the department has already had and still receives in the area of implicit bias, crisis intervention training, de-escalation, and integrity."

The letter concludes by stating that the executive order and the language within shows that the Albany Police Department does not have the support of the Mayor.

Mayor Sheehan responded later Tuesday evening, saying in part: "It is important to reiterate our dedication to these principles [de-escalation, and integrity]- regardless of the current protocols of the Albany Police Department."

The Mayor continued by saying there was a gap in how Albany residents experience interactions with police, compared to how police perceive those interactions.

"We must work as a community to close this gap," said Mayor Sheehan in a letter responding to the APOU.

Mayor Sheehan says Monday's executive order is only the start of working to fill that gap.

The full letter in question:
https://m.facebook.com/AlbanyAPOU/photos/a.1140388896149668/1361631417358747/
---

police unions are the worst unions in this country.

Literally a government paid gang. As long as these people largely remain on the force, there will be no more change. That's why you can't just stuff the budget more and say they'll train better or "hire diversity." It's a culture of superiority and of disdain for the people who most need help.

---

what the fuck happened to law enforcement in New York? I mean, it has issues pretty much everywhere in the States, but jfc NY seems to have it way worse than the rest of us.

---

How many more times am I going to read about a police force responding to changes or criticism that actually make them look even worse and more unprofessional than they already do?

---

Full letter in question for anyone who doesn't wanna deal with Facebook. Basically a bunch of whining and "how dare you assume based on our long history of corruption and abuse that we're not the best human beings in the world"

---

Medussa posted...

what the fuck happened to law enforcement in New York? I mean, it has issues pretty much everywhere in the States, but jfc NY seems to have it way worse than the rest of us.

not sure on the rest of the state. but i have always heard about NYC police supposedly being one of if not the most corrupt PD in the nation

Highlighting the fact that chokeholds are banned and they receive all types of reformist training and yet still act the way they do isn't the rhetorical stroke they seem to think it is. It just proves abolitionists points that they just don't need to be doing anything because the institution is broken regardless of trainings.

---

I still don't think "Don't choke people or stand/kneel on their head for 10 minutes" is a training issue

It takes 20 seconds to explain that and 0.2 seconds to comprehend it.

If a cop can't handle that then they shouldn't be a cop.

To me it's like if cops were peeing in womens mouths at traffic stops and then went "Oh it's a training issue, we need to make sure cops know they shouldn't do that and install a 6 month anti-piss in mouth training class for recruits."

I don't comprehend how people can say this with a straight face
---

How could the home of steamed hams act like this?

---

On paper, I'm sure a choke hold has its uses but it's fucking apparent as shit that these fucks lack the two needed brain cells to rub together to understand when enough is a goddamned nough.

If I get in a fight and choke someone out I'm going to jail for at least the night. If I choke them out and they die at the scene of the fight, I'm going to jail for murder.

Fuck it, fire all of them.

---

chokeholds work in competitive martial arts because there's a guy to force you to get off of the other dude when they tap or pass out.cops meanwhile have a pretty well established record of "fearing for their lives" and doing things well beyond the current situation to people, and anyone who tries to interfere will be arrested or worse

---