Following Statements by Councilman Greenfield and Senatorial candidate Simcha Felder, Assemblyman Dov Hikind joined in denouncing the beating of a man by NYPD officers.
“This young man had permission to sleep at this youth center and when questioned he put his hands behind him as if to demonstrate that he was not threatening anyone,” Dov Hikind said at a press conference. “If not for the clear evidence of this video, we might believe that Mr. Halevi had committed the crime he was accused of, which included assaulting an officer of the law. But the video proves this was a lie. How many similar claims by law enforcement officers are equally fictitious?
“This can’t possibly be the type of training that New York City police officers receive,” said Hikind. “I have long been a friend and vocal supporter of the NYPD but this was anything but New York’s Finest in their finest moment. We are demanding an immediate investigation into this incident. These two officers must be suspended for this cruel, unprofessional, unconscionable act.
“Clearly, things have not been good between the Crown Heights community and the police precinct that is here to protect them. It’s a shame that it took an incident like this—and a video to prove it—to change things. But it must change. This type of behavior from a police officer can never be allowed again.”
