The NYC Department of Investigation has put out an open call for information about how the NYPD responds to protests and is using an online portal to gather more from people who have their own accounts of the incidents.
“We’re open to hearing from anyone, including people who think that a protest was handled particularly well,” said Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber. “But what we would expect is to get anyone who is a witness to or has heard from someone else that a protest was not handled appropriately, based on what they observed. What we’re going to be looking at is how the department’s conduct measures up to the policies and standards it has now set for itself in policing protests.
“But obviously, people are not going to necessarily be familiar with those standards, and that’s fine. They’re going to be reporting like they normally would on any conduct that they feel is of concern: inappropriate handling of crowds, inappropriate interactions with individual protesters, really anything along those lines.”
Ultimately, the investigation seeks to fine-tune how NYPD protest responses are conducted to ensure they not only remain in compliance, but also examine how such practices can be improved. The portal allows respondents to upload photos and specifically asks about whether officers employed the likes of bicycles, flexi-cuffs, or shields during protest enforcement — such equipment is known to be used for now-banned practices like kettling, which involves trapping protesters, including those not accused of committing a crime.
The DOI’s probe stems from settlements made over Black Lives Matter protesters alleging police brutality during the 2020 George Floyd protests. The lawsuits brought by the State Attorney General’s Office, as well as legal organizations like the New York Civil Liberties Union and the Legal Aid Society, led to police reforms, including a tiered system that restricts the NYPD’s deployment of the Strategic Response Group, a controversial unit dedicated to crowd control.
In March, the city established the DOI’s Protest Response Oversight (PRO) unit to handle such matters as a part of the settlement. An Inspector General, along with two special counsels and two senior investigators, make up the taskforce. While the office required new hires, handling this investigation through a local government agency rather than a third-party monitor — like the Floyd litigation over stop-and-frisk practices or the Nunez settlement over city jail conditions — will save the city substantial money.
As of last month, the PRO unit is reviewing two protests recommended by the settlement plaintiffs: a pro-Palestinian Brooklyn College demonstration in May and a “No Kings” rally outside 26 Federal Plaza immigration court in June. Monitors from the team are easy to spot at protests as they wear a bright green vest labeled “DOI Protest Response Monitor.”
For those interested in submitting information to the PRO unit, the DOI cautions those facing related criminal charges to consult with their attorney first. “I’m not giving anybody legal advice, but as a general matter, I think if someone is under arrest for conduct at a protest, they want to consult with their attorney,” said Strauber. “And their attorney can give them guidance as to whether, if they have a complaint or a concern they want to raise, what the appropriate channel is to do that.” Submissions go through the DOI online portal, but those who wish to report anonymously can call (212) 825-6854.