Reflecting on the decade since the killing of NYPD officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu in Brooklyn, changes in policing and community relations in New York have been significant but complex. On December 20, ten years ago, officers Ramos and Liu were shot in their patrol car by Ismaaiyl Brinsley, who had expressed a desire for revenge for the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. "I'm putting Wings on Pigs Today...They Take 1 of Ours...Let's Take 2 of Theirs," Brinsley wrote in a chilling social media post, as reported by The Telegraph.
In the years following the tragedy, the NYPD introduced measures to improve officer safety, such as bulletproof patrol cars and officer smartphones. "Out of that tragedy came a lot of positives," former Police Commissioner Bill Bratton told Gothamist, referring to advancements in technology and intelligence management within the department. However, the events also led to increased scrutiny of police practices, protests, and reforms, including the repeal of the state law "50-a" that had previously protected police disciplinary records from public view.
According to Gothamist, the NYPD’s budget has rebounded to about the same level as before the "defund the police" movement, not accounting for inflation. Maritza Ramos, widow of Rafael Ramos, continues efforts to improve police-community relations, including hosting toy giveaways to help children see cops in a positive light.
Pei Xia Chen, widow of Wenjian Liu, has faced both the loss of her husband and ongoing negative attitudes toward the police. "While trying to keep society safe from dangerous criminals, police officers can be spat on, smacked, punched, stabbed, shot, and sadly, quite often, police officers are killed, simply for doing their job," Chen said in a The Telegraph interview.
The legacy of fallen officers Ramos and Liu continues to shape current NYPD practices and the broader conversation about policing in America. As New York City addresses the complexities of law enforcement, community relations, and officer safety, the families of Ramos and Liu remain committed to building trust and honoring their loved ones' memory. The Detective Rafael Ramos Foundation and the Wenjian Liu Foundation serve as tributes to their lives.
