[ad_1]
The NYPD’s most-complained about cop has defended heavy-handed police tactics that led to 56 substantiated misconduct claims against him.
Lieutenant Eric Dym, who retired from the force in October, insisted officers like him are ‘the ones you want to come to your door if, God forbid, you should ever need the police’.
Across 18 years in the NYPD, the former Marine was subject to dozens of complaints and involved in a number of discipline cases.
Substantiated allegations against him include four cases of pointing a gun at someone, seven of physical force and dozens of instances of abuse of authority.
But Dym, 42, has defended his approach to policing as necessary to keep the streets safe.
Across 18 years in the NYPD, the former Marine was subject to dozens of complaints and involved in a number of discipline cases
NYPD Lt. Eric Dym, right in white shirt, was disciplined by the department for acts that included improperly using his nightstick as a club when responding to Black Lives Matter protesters in The Bronx in June 2020
The former cop is pictured during one exchange where he punched a suspect multiple times during an arrest attempt
He was also recorded riding down a street on a seized bike without a helmet on in the city
Addressing his controversial methods, Dym told New York’s Finest: Retired & Unfiltered Podcast: ‘My guys and girls that were on the street, the ones that you’re substantiating complaints against, including myself — we’re the ones that you want to come to your door if, God forbid, you should ever need the police.’
He added: ‘The Taser is not always an effective tool. No one likes to see the baton. Punches are ugly. They don’t want to see chokes.
‘So I ask the public…’tell us, what do you want to see?’
‘We’re only told what they don’t want to see. But what do you want to see?
‘We’re talking about lives on the line, safety, for myself, and the cops. And they forget that we’re human. And we all have that fear factor.’
Dym has also been named in at least ten lawsuits which have cost the city more than $1.5m.
The substantiated claims against him were investigated by the Civilian Complaint Review Board, which oversees the NYPD.
Justice campaigners have said Dym’s aggressive policing is unlawful and harms communities.
Jose Lasalle wone nearly $900,000 in a wrongful arrest lawsuit against Dym and several other officers over an incident in 2017.
Mr Lasalle, who co-founded Copwatch Patrol Unit, told New York’s The City that Dym was ‘full of crap’ for trying to justify himself.
Dym added: ‘We’re seeking out those in possession of illegal firearms and those who did shootings.
‘So in many cases, they’re going to fight because they don’t want to go to prison for a long period of time.
‘They have to give up maybe family, kids, or a job — so they don’t want to go in.
‘And it’s human nature at that point: It’s fight or flight. And unfortunately, when we form a tactical plan, and we do a good job of isolating that perpetrator, their only option is to fight.
‘And our only option is to keep each other safe.’
One of the videos during his time with the force showed him beating on a suspect he was trying to arrest
He is also shown here looking pleased with himself as he rides a bike down a street in the city
Addressing his controversial methods, Dym told New York’s Finest: Retired & Unfiltered Podcast: ‘My guys and girls that were on the street, the ones that you’re substantiating complaints against, including myself — we’re the ones that you want to come to your door if, God forbid, you should ever need the police’
He claimed in the podcast that, in the months before his retirement, he ‘observed numerous opportunities to conduct a stop where I’m confident I would obtain an illegal firearm, but I shied away from it because the amount of charges were mounting up’.
The CCRB had sought to have Dym terminated over the allegations against him. By retiring, he will avoid facing discipline for 29 of the charges.
His attorney, James Moschella, previously told The City: ‘He could not perform the type of policing that he believed was necessary, so he chose on his own volition to retire from the police department. And that is exactly what the CCRB wanted.’
[ad_2]
Source link
