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In Westchester County, Black Law Enforcement Professionals have been the most under appreciated professional in Civil
Service. The Black officer is under represented in many of the communities in Westchester and Black Law Enforcement management will be extinct in the next 10 years.
One thing that most stands out is the treatment of Black Officers, especially in incidences when the black officer in the victim.
Friday, White Plains police Officer Michael Hannon stood with other Black Law Enforcement officers as they expressed their outrage in the failed investigation of the Westchester County DA’s office.
On Sept 22, 2011, White Plains Police Assistant Chief Anne Fitzsimmons is accused of violently flinging a chair at Police Officer Hannon who had his back to her and while he was on duty at the White Plains Police headquarters in the communications room.
As a result of this incident with Assistant Chief Anne Fitzsimmons, Officer Hannon has suffered severe injuries, including but not limited to injury to a disc in his back and damage to his sciatica nerve. As a result of the injuries Officer Hannon has not been able to work active duty.
What is most disturbing is that the Westchester County District Attorney Janet Difiore failed miserably to investigate the assault by an Assistant Chief of a Police Department “Said Damon K. Jones, New York Representative of Blacks in Law Enforcement of America.
Westchester D.A. spokesman Lucian Chalfin said Friday to the journal news that Hannon’s accusations had been fully investigated and that criminal charges were found to be unwarranted.
But Jones disagreed.
“The fact of the matter is,” said Jones, “the District Attorney’s Investigation in the assault on Officer Hannon was a sham.”
“How can you have a ranking officer, a police officer and a civilian and all supported Mr. Hannon’s claim and version of the incident, said Jones.
“If the subject were a regular citizen these witnesses would have been enough to press charges,” said Jones.
Jones pointed to the case of Tarrytown Police Officer, Derrick G. Purdie – the towns only black police officer, was charged with third-degree criminal mischief, a felony over a broken lock.
“Its funny how a supervisors testimony is good enough to bring charges on Purdie, a black officer but in Hannon’s case the testimony of a supervisor isn’t good for a white Chief,” said Jones.
“The lack of transparency started with the death of Christopher Ridley”, said Jones.
January 25, 2008, Detective Christopher Ridley was shot and killed by Westchester County Police after being mistaken for a suspect in White Plains.
“His death was a Democratic coverup”, said Jones, the lack on transparancy and the silence among black leaders in Westchester over the death of a black law enforcement officer gave a green light for the violations of human and civil rights of black men throughout Westchester County”.
NYPD Sergeant Kenny Kessiedu who was assaulted on his way to work by Yonkers uniform police officers and a year later found not guilty of any charges brought by the District Attorney’s office. If our Westchester County Justice system can create an atmosphere guilt of Black officers but White officers continue to violate policies, then any young man, especially, a young black man does not have a chance for any real transparency of the law in Westchester County. Read Where there is No Justice, There is No Freedom
“The silence of many black officers in Westchester has not helped the situation”, said jones, “it’s sad enough that there are some that are willing to support this racially charged game of white supremacy in law enforcement in Westchester”.
Recently, Black Westchester reported the uncovered bias in discipline and investigations of Black officers in Mt. Vernon Police Department.
White officers like Mount Vernon Sergeant Micheal Marcucilli who has been named in several excessive-force lawsuits, costing the city $930,000 and not one criminal investigation from the Westchester County DA’s office. But yet there have been unfounded rumors black officers who were born and raised in Mount Vernon have had their credibility called to question saying that they had gang ties.
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Retired MVPD Detective Sergeant Anthony Mitchell speaking on how Black cops are treated
Family members of active and retired MVPD Officers that were born and raised in MV have continuous questioned the blanket statement about their alleged gang affiliations, and have repeatedly requested an apology from Mayor Davis and the City council with no avail. Since 2013 not one black officers born and raised in Mt. Vernon have been charged of any crime.
“This is the continues attack on the good black officers”, said jones, “unfortunately, you have some black cops doing the DA’s bidding to destroy the one respected by the community.”
Officer Hannon has publicly and formally requested the Department of Justice to look into White Plains Police Department and the District Attorney’s office.
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Blacks in Law Enforcement of America and other organizations have publicly requested the US Attorney to look at cases in Westchester County.
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