Protesters Stage Die-In to Call for Firing of Cop Who Killed Allan Feliz

Feliz Family is joined by elected officials, supporters to demand NYPD Commissioner Tisch and Mayor Adams Take Action After Years of Delays

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Tess Weiner, tess@justicecommittee.org, 224.213.5495

New York, NY –– Tonight, dozens of protesters staged a die-in at One Police Plaza to call attention to the NYPD killing of Allan Feliz and demand the firing of Lt. Jonathan Rivera, who beat, tased, and shot Allan at close range during an unjust traffic stop in 2019. Alongside the family of Allan Feliz, Council Members Alexa Avilés and Carmen de la Rosa, community organizations, and fellow New Yorkers rallied to protest NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch’s inaction and ongoing silence around this case. More than two months ago, NYPD Deputy Commissioner Rosemarie Maldonado found Jonathan Rivera guilty of killing Allan Feliz and recommended his termination. Despite widespread ground pressure from elected officials, advocates, and the public at large, as well as the NYPD Commissioner’s own promises of internal accountability, she has delayed making a decision and avoided answering questions related to this case. 

“Lt. Rivera should have been fired in October 2019 when he murdered my unarmed brother,” said Samy Feliz, the younger brother of Allan Feliz. “Instead, for five and a half years, my family and I have stood up here countless times, fighting through intentional delays and obstructions by the NYPD, the administration and the lieutenants police union, just to get this killer cop fired. Now that one of the NYPD’s own has found Rivera guilty, we shouldn’t have to still be fighting.”

“Two months have passed since the Deputy Commissioner found Lt. Rivera in violation of NYPD protocols and our laws. Yet, our Mayor and Commissioner Tisch have taken no steps to fire Lt. Rivera from his position,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés. “They are continuing to allow inexcusable violence to run rampant in our city and the NYPD. To protect New Yorkers and bring any justice to the memory of Allan Feliz, he must be removed immediately. My heart goes out to the Feliz family, who have been left to suffer throughout this years-long process. It’s time to radically alter how our policing system operates to ensure an end to these instances of violence and harm.”

Speakers highlighted Lt. Jonathan Rivera’s long history of violence: he has 39 misconduct allegations, five of which have been substantiated, and six lawsuits, including at least five allegations since he murdered Allan Feliz in 2019. In that time, not only was Rivera not disciplined for his fatal use of force, but he was also promoted from sergeant to lieutenant. 

“We are staging this die-in because we want to make it clear, if Lt. Rivera is allowed to remain in the NYPD, all New Yorkers’ lives are in danger,” shared Anthony Feliciano, spokesperson for the Justice Committee and Housing Works Vice President for Advocacy, as attendees laid on the ground outside the police headquarters. “Rivera previously shot a 15-year-old who was trying to surrender. He murdered Allan in cold blood and he has continued to rack up misconduct allegations since then. It’s only a matter of time before he kills someone else.”

“It has been over two months since Lt. Jonathan Rivera was found to have violated NYPD protocols, broken the law, and lied to cover it up. Yet, Commissioner Tisch and Mayor Adams have failed to act. The delay is inexcusable," said Tina Loungo, Chief Attorney of the Criminal Defense Practice at The Legal Aid Society. "Allan Feliz was killed over five years ago. His family has endured years of obstruction from the NYPD and City Hall. At every turn, the NYPD’s Force Investigation Division sought to obstruct the CCRB’s investigation by refusing to turn over critical evidence in a timely manner. Lt. Rivera has nearly 40 misconduct allegations, six lawsuits, and a record of violence that includes killing Allan and shooting a 15-year-old. Keeping him on the force is a threat to public safety and a disgrace to this city. If Commissioner Tisch is serious about accountability, she must follow the CCRB’s recommendation to fire Lt. Rivera immediately.”

"Increasing trust in our police force comes with accountability and transparency -- neither of which have been offered to the Feliz family who have been waiting for over half a decade for change,” said Council Member Carmen de la Rosa. “It's unacceptable that we allow officers, sworn to protect and serve, to commit heinous acts against their constituency with impunity. The culture of the NYPD must change, and this is a far overdue opportunity.”

“The murder of Allan Feliz was a disgusting abuse of power and tragic instance of misconduct. While we cannot bring Mr. Feliz back, we can hold his assailant accountable,” said Senator Julia Salazar.  “Along with fellow electeds, advocates, Mr. Feliz’s loved ones, and now NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Trials Rosemarie Maldonado – who oversaw Rivera's discipline trial, found him guilty, and recommended he be fired – I am calling on Commissioner Tisch and Mayor Adams to fire Jonathan Rivera from the NYPD.” 

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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 Allan 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 2024 and a discipline trial was held in November 2024. In February 2025, Deputy Commissioner of Trials Rosemarie Maldonado determined Lt. Rivera to be guilty of excessive force and assault in the first degree and recommended he be fired. 

The Feliz family called for the NYPD commissioner and the mayor to make a swift decision that accepts Maldonado’s recommendation to fire Lt. Rivera by March 31, 2025. On March 6, a few days after what would have been Allan Feliz’s 37th birthday, 32 city and state elected officials signed on to a letter of support for the family, echoing their demands. Following the failure of the commissioner and mayor to meet the family’s demands of firing Lt. Rivera by March 31, 50 civil rights and community organizations sent a letter expressing their disappointment and urging immediate action on April 1.

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.