pictured above Attorney William O. Wagstaff speaking at a vigil for Jarrel Garris in front of St. Catherine A.M.E. Zion Church where Garris was shot by NRPD Det Steven Conn [Black Westchester]

New Rochelle Police Commissioner Robert Gazzola released a brief statement on Friday, announcing that an internal investigation determined that the NRPD found none of the officers involved in the July 3, 2023 killing of Jerrel Garris violated the department’s policies or procedures.

William O. Wagstaff, attorney for Garris’ family called Commissioner Gazzola’s statement very telling,

“words matter — because the indication that none of the officers involved in Jarrel’s killing “committed violations of department policies or procedures” underscores the reason the Garris family and community have been advocating for policy changes, the use of force policies and procedures are flawed and continue to enable unnecessary civilian deaths at the hands of police,” Wagstaff responded in a statement (see below) released to Black Westchester.

Three New Rochelle cops who were placed on paid administrative leave — identified as Officers Kari Bird, Gabrielle Chavarry, and Detective Steven Conn — confronted Jarrell Garris, 37, at New Rochelle Farms on North Avenue on July 3, 2023. Detective Conn fired one round, which hit Garris in the neck and impacted his cervical spine and spinal cord, the Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office said July 12. Garris remained in a coma and was taken off life support on July 10. His death was ruled a homicide and was investigated by the NYS Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation which found 14 months later that the officers had legal justification for their actions on September 18, 2024.

Wagstaff says at the end of his statement, “The Garris Family — with the support of the community — will continue to fight for Justice for Jarrel.”

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