Investigator Forced to Resign for Leaking Info on NYPD Cop Who Killed Eric Garner

An investigator who leaked info on the white cop at the center of Eric Garner's controversial death has resigned.

March 24, 2017

The investigator who leaked information about the New York Police Department officer involved in the 2014 chokehold death of Eric Garner has been forced to resign. The police watchdog agency investigator had worked for the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) for less than a year, the Associated Pressreported Friday. The person, who has not been identified, chose to quit when faced with the prospect of termination.

"After a swift and thorough internal investigation, the Civilian Complaint Review Board identified the employee who was the source of the leak," Jerika Richardson, CCRB's Senior Advisor and Secretary to the Board, told Complex in a statement Friday. "As of today, that individual no longer works at CCRB." The unnamed individual has been described as a junior staff person. According to the CCRB, the individual was not working on any investigations related to the leaked information. No one else is believed to have been involved in the leak.

Earlier this week, the now-former CCRB employee gave disciplinary documents related to NYPD Officer Daniel Pantaleo to ThinkProgress. The documents, ThinkProgress writer Carimah Townes said, are the "subject of an ongoing lawsuit, and the city refuses to release them." Prior to putting Garner (who was unarmed) in a chokehold, Pantaleo reportedly had reportedly amassed seven disciplinary complaints and 14 "individual allegations."

Garner was stopped by cops in 2014 after being accused of selling untaxed cigarettes. Pantaleo, as seen in cellphone footage obtained by the New York Daily News, ultimately put Garner in what has been described as a chokehold before removing his arm from the unarmed man's neck. As multiple officers attempted to restrain Garner, he repeatedly announced that he was unable to breathe before seemingly losing consciousness and later being pronounced dead at the hospital.

A medical examiner ruled Garner's death a homicide "caused in part by the chokehold," the Associated Pressreported. Pantaleo's attorney, however, argued that a department-taught takedown method—not a chokehold—was used. A grand jury ultimately declined to indict Pantaleo in Garner's death in December 2014, inspiring nationwide protests. Pantaleo is currently still employed by the NYPD.