A decade ago, an act of horrific violence struck New York City when two officers of the New York Police Department (NYPD), stationed in their patrol car in Brooklyn, were brutally shot and killed. This appalling incident occurred amidst heightened tension and protests across the city following the death of Eric Garner, a victim of police brutality, deepening the wound. Garner’s tragic end was a result of an unlawful chokehold imposed by an NYPD officer who was not held accountable. The cold-blooded murder of officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu, stationed in their patrol vehicle, symbolized a significant turning point in the interaction between New York City’s population and the law enforcement agencies. According to law enforcement analysts, this tragic event prompted the implementation of additional safety protocols for officers, while public discourse about criminal justice reform oscillated over the course of time. The bereaved families of the assassinated officers opined that efforts need to be intensified to mend the relationship between law enforcement and the community.
As we mark a decade since this grievous incident, New York City has experienced a surge in protests, particularly noticeable in the unruly year of 2020. During this period, legislators yielded to demands for the reform of the criminal justice system and minimized funding for the NYPD. Following these reforms, increasing concerns were expressed about perceived disorder and the rising sense of insecurity on the city streets. Currently, law enforcement agencies continue to strive towards rehabilitating their relationship with the public and vice versa.
Recounting the dreaded events on December 20, 2014, NYPD officers Rafael Ramos aged 40, and Wenjian Liu aged 32, remained parked at the crossroads of Myrtle and Tompkins avenues in Brooklyn. Eyewitness accounts detail how the perpetrator, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, approached the passenger window and unleashed a fusillade from his semiautomatic handgun; four gunshots found their marks on both the officers in their heads and torsos. Following his fatal assault, Brinsley absconded to the Myrtle-Willoughby Avenues subway station, where he committed suicide with the same firearm. Earlier in that ill-fated day, the man had shot his girlfriend in Baltimore before making his way to New York. As he embarked on this journey, he posted vengeful messages on social media against law enforcement.
In the time that has elapsed since 2014, the legislative landscape has been updated. The preceding ‘defund the police’ measures have led the NYPD’s budget to rebound to its pre-existing state, barring the adjustment for inflation as per documents from the City Council and the city’s Independent Budget Office. As a broader narrative, the year 2014 played a pivotal role in kick-starting a social movement which ultimately facilitated the professionalization of police departments nationwide, employing more enlightened officers who were more representative of the demographics of their communities. However, under the current administrative regime, the NYPD has resorted to the more hard-line approach of policing, predominantly focusing on low-tier arrests.
The task of restoring the relationship between the NYPD and the community is one of paramount importance for friends and family of the murdered officers Ramos and Liu. Multiple foundations have been initiated to aid the families of deceased first-responders and to enhance the trust between police officers and local communities. These foundations undertake a variety of initiatives, including organizing toy giveaways, visiting educational institutions and training therapy dogs.