The family of Allan Feliz, a man shot and killed by an NYPD officer in 2019, has been met with despair and frustration after NYC's Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch ruled against dismissing the officer involved. The decision contradicts an earlier recommendation by a departmental judge to terminate the officer. As CBS News New York reports, Feliz was pulled over by then-Sgt. Jonathan Rivera for allegedly not wearing a seatbelt, which led to a struggle and ultimately his death by Rivera's gun.
Commissioner Tisch has defended her determination, stating that the shooting was justified, given Rivera's belief that his actions were necessary to save the life of another officer. The commissioner's preliminary decision, however, goes against an NYPD trial judge's findings, which had declared Rivera guilty of first-degree assault, recommending he be fired, as mentioned in the report obtained by CBS News New York.
Meanwhile, the family's heartache resonates in a statement by Feliz's sister, Ashley Verdeja, "We think you want to protect your end and you want to protect the NYPD, and that's fine, but your goal should be to protect New Yorkers," she told CBS News New York.
This resolution is backed by a separate 2020 investigation by the state Attorney General's office, which also did not find grounds for prosecution. Yet, this does little to quell the moral outrage of Feliz's family, who deem Tisch's decision as "outrageous, cowardly and shameful," according to ABC News. In response, Feliz's family and supporters are set to rally outside of police headquarters demanding justice.
The city's Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB), who brought the original charges against Rivera, has been given until Friday to issue their response in hopes of persuading the commissioner to change her course. A spokesperson for the CCRB has indicated they are preparing their response, as they remain hopeful to influence a different outcome. The officer's union, however, stands by Tisch's decision, lauding it for being "based on the facts and the law," a sentiment shared by Jonathan Rivera himself, suggesting Tisch's ruling is driven by legal and factual consideration rather than political convenience, as per ABC News.
