FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT:
Eliel Cruz, Justice Committee, press@justicecommittee.org
New York, NY — The disciplinary trial against Lt. Jonathan Rivera for the killing of Allan Feliz in 2019 concluded today with summations from the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) and Lt. Rivera’s police union attorneys.
During closing arguments, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Trials Rosemary Maldonado allowed Lt. Rivera’s attorneys to erroneously blame the CCRB for passing the 18-month statute of limitations (SOL) for NYPD misconduct charges, but then barred the CCRB from explaining the truth: that the NYPD made it impossible for the CCRB to complete their investigation because the NYPD refused to give the CCRB the necessary files for almost two and a half years. As a result of the NYPD’s obstruction, during Rivera's trial the CCRB was forced to prove penal code equivalents to Rivera’s misconduct in order to reach a guilty verdict, instead of just proving that Lt. Rivera violated NYPD protocols and training.
Notably, last year, Commissioner Maldonado used the passing of the SOL to excuse the actions of the officers who killed Kawaski Trawick. The Feliz family and their supporters are concerned that, once again, the NYPD’s stall tactics aimed at shielding officers who engaged in misconduct will result in Rivera facing no consequences for the murder of Allan Feliz, an unarmed New Yorker.
“I’m disappointed with how the trial took place,” said Mery Verdeja, mother of Allan Feliz. “My son was treated as if he were the one who killed the police officer, when it was the other way around. After seeing how this trial took place and how the trial commissioner acted, it’s hard to believe how we will get any kind of justice for Allan’s murder.”
“I’m experiencing a lot of heartbreak from what we experienced in the courtroom,” said Samy Feliz, brother of Allan Feliz. “This was a sham trial that attempted to demonize Allan using information the officers had no access to until after they killed my brother. It’s disgusting. Lt. Rivera decided to take my brother’s life because he could. He knew what he was going to do when he pulled his gun and threatened to kill my brother, saying ‘I’m gonna f**king shoot you.”
“The disciplinary trial against Lt. Rivera is the first one for a police killing since Mayor Adams retaliated against former CCRB Board Chair Arva Rice for criticizing the NYPD decision to let the officerw who killed Kawaski Trawick walk,” said Justice Committee Executive Director Loyda Colón (they, them). “Rivera’s trial is another example of why the NYPD should not have the authority to discipline itself. The NYPD’s current discipline process is not rooted in the safety of New Yorkers, it’s about protecting abusive cops at all costs. While Mayor Adams is complicit in this, the decision to fire Lt. Rivera is an opportunity for him to show that he truly cares about the safety of New Yorkers. It is also a test for Interim Police Commissioner Donlon to show that he won’t be bullied by the mayor, but will instead clean up the NYPD as he claims he aims to.”
“I stand in solidarity with the Feliz family because I know how it feels when they wanna accuse your child of his own death,” said Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner. “Unless we keep fighting, they will try to sweep this under the run. I’m still fighting and you have to keep fighting in the same way.”
The family of Allan Feliz is demanding that Mayor Adams and Commissioner Donlon fire Lt. Rivera immediately.
Other Quotes
“Allan Feliz’s death and the failure to bring Lt. Jonathan Rivera to trial demonstrates the complete failure of our justice system,” said Councilmember Alexa Aviles. “An innocent man was unlawfully and brutally killed by police–with ample evidence to show for it–and yet, his family has been unable to receive closure for almost five years. This lack of accountability and extreme violence is unacceptable on every front.”
"After nearly four and a half years demanding accountability and justice, Allan Feliz’s family finally has an opportunity to see their day in court,” said Council Member Crystal Hudson. “We cannot continue to allow the NYPD to kill our neighbors without facing consequences. The NYPD is supposed to protect and serve, yet time and time again, they demonstrate a wanton disregard for the lives of New Yorkers. Lt. Rivera must be fired, and the NYPD must deliver justice on behalf of the New Yorkers they are sworn to serve.”
Background: On October 17, 2019, NYPD Lt. Jonathan Rivera (who was a sergeant at the time) and Officers Edward Barrett and Michelle Almanzar pulled Allan Feliz over on the corner of E 211 St and Bainbridge Ave for allegedly not wearing a seatbelt. Bodyworn camera (bwc) footage shows officers acknowledging that Mr. Feliz was wearing his seatbelt, but rather than allowing him to drive away, the officers escalated by illegally detaining him and attacking him. Lt. Rivera climbed into the passenger side of the car, tasered, beat and threatened to shoot Mr. Feliz, and then shot him point blank in the chest. After Mr. Feliz was shot, Officer Barrett yanked Mr. Feliz’s limp body from the car, exposing his genitals. None of the officers immediately covered Mr. Feliz or provided medical aid. Instead, they left Mr. Feliz to bleed out, cuffed, and exposed.
After years of delays and obstruction, in May 2023, the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) substantiated fireable charges against Lt. Rivera for the killing of Alan Feliz. The NYPD delayed the process further by failing to deliver the charges to Lt. Rivera so that a discipline trial could be scheduled for over a year. Finally, after multiple rallies and press conferences, the NYPD delivered the charges in June and a discipline trial has been scheduled for Nov. 12, 13 and 15, 2024. The Feliz family is calling for the Mayor and NYPD commissioner to make a swift decision post trial that accepts the CCRB recommendation to fire Lt. Rivera.
About the Justice Committee: Since the 1980s, the Justice Committee (JC) has been dedicated to building a movement against police violence and systemic racism in New York City. The heart of our work is organizing and uplifting the leadership of families who have lost loved ones to the police and survivors of police violence. We empower our community to deter police violence, hold law enforcement accountable, and build people-led community safety through grassroots organizing campaigns, community empowerment, political education, our CopWatch program, and by developing safety mechanisms and projects that decrease reliance on police. By building solidarity with other anti-racist, immigrant and people of color-led organizations, the Justice Committee seeks to contribute to a broad-based movement for racial, social, and economic justice.
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