Legal Aid Society

News

LAS Demands Accountability for NYPD Officer Who Assaulted a 20-Year-Old Protester ​

The Legal Aid Society has lauded the arrest of Vincent D’Andraia, the NYPD officer that was caught on video assaulting a protester at last week’s George Floyd demonstration.

The video is just the latest of many recorded encounters that have gone viral in recent weeks that depict aggressive, violent tactics employed by officers against peaceful protesters, and has drawn intense scrutiny to the lack of accountability and discipline within the NYPD, according to the New York Daily News.

Legal Aid and partner defender organizations have renewed long-standing calls for departmental reform, as well as prosecution of officers who engage is misconduct and violent behavior, pressing DA’s to protect New Yorkers and hold bad officers accountable.

“Officer Vincent D’Andraia’s misconduct typifies a culture of impunity that thrives amongst the rank-and-file at the NYPD,” reads a statement from The Legal Aid Society. “In the absence of a NYPD discipline system that truly holds officers accountable for misconduct and discourages inappropriate or even criminal behavior, our local District Attorneys must provide that check on law enforcement.”