Family members of a man fatally shot by an NYPD officer in 2019 are urging Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch to fire that officer, after she declined to take action last week.
Allan Feliz, 31, was driving in the Bronx when he was stopped by officers, including then-Sergeant Jonathan Rivera, for not wearing a seatbelt.
When officers tried to pat him down, Feliz got back into the car and tried to drive away.
Rivera deployed his taser and lunged into the car. He then shot Feliz in the chest.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board decided to bring charges against Rivera last year, and the NYPD’s deputy commissioner of trials recommended back in February that Rivera be fired.
City Councilwoman Carmen De La Rosa, who represents the neighborhood of Washington Heights where the Feliz family is from, and Samy Feliz, the brother of Allan Feliz, joined NY1 political anchor Errol Louis on “Inside City Hall” Thursday to talk more about the commissioner’s decision.
“We’re completely heartbroken by the decision made by the police commissioner,” Feliz said. “The police commissioner has chosen to go against her own deputy commissioner’s decision to fire this officer, which shows her side and what she’s choosing to do. And that’s to continue to allow officers to run the city with impunity and kill and harm New Yorkers and be protected by even the highest levels.”
Tap the video player above to watch the interview.