From Sauron's Eye, New York Office, New York City Ends Qualified Immunity For Police Officers, Becoming 1st In Nation To Do So
The decades-old protection has prevented officers from being sued or liable for misconduct.
New York is now the first city in the country to end qualified. The measure was passed as part of a package of police reform bills.
Critics argued scrapping the protection will make officers less aggressive in fighting crime, if they have to worry about lawsuits.
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, however, said it “has been used to deny justice to victims of police abuse for decades.”
“Rooted in our nation’s history of systemic racism, qualified immunity denied Freedom Riders justice and has been used to deny justice to victims of police abuse for decades,” he tweeted after the vote. “It should never have been allowed, but I’m proud that we took action today to end it here in NYC.”
I don't have any problem with anyone being held directly responsible for misconduct or criminal action. But does it make sense to take "qualified" immunity away from police, and continue to extend it to prosecutors, who are fairly routinely accused (and caught) ignoring people's civil rights, withholding exculpatory evidence, and seeking persons to prosecute before actually having a crime in mind to prosecute?
Oh, it will make the police less aggressive alright. They won't do anything and crime will soar. I hope the people of NY like what they're about to get.
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