How policing in New York has evolved 10 years after the targeted killing of 2 NYPD officers

Ten years ago today, two NYPD officers tragically lost their lives when they were shot and killed while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn.

On the heels of citywide protests against police brutality following the tragic death of Eric Garner, a shocking act of violence took place. Garner, who had been subjected to a prohibited chokehold by an NYPD officer, never faced charges for his actions.

The tragic incident in 2014, where officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu lost their lives while sitting in their patrol car, served as a pivotal moment in shaping the relationship between law enforcement and New York City.

As a result of this devastating event, law enforcement experts implemented new safety measures to protect officers on duty. Furthermore, public opinion regarding criminal justice reform has experienced fluctuations over time.

Despite progress made, the families of the fallen officers emphasize the need for continuous efforts to enhance police-community relations.

The police expressed their feelings of being unsupported by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, who had shown empathy towards the protesters. Their anger reached its peak when hundreds of officers symbolically turned their backs on him, both at the hospital on the day of the officers’ killings and at one officer’s funeral.

In 2020, the city witnessed a surge in protests, building upon the previous decade’s activism. These demonstrations were fueled by the demand for criminal justice reform and the reduction of funding for the NYPD.

However, following the implementation of these reforms, an increasing number of individuals began expressing concerns about a perceived rise in disorder and insecurity on the streets. Consequently, in 2021, the residents elected Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain who campaigned on a platform emphasizing law and order.

Today, the police continue their efforts to repair their relationship with the public, and vice versa.

In an interview on Wednesday, Jose Falero, a close friend and fellow police officer of Ramos, expressed his concerns about the low morale within the police department. He acknowledged that the incident involving George Floyd had further impacted the already challenging situation.

However, Falero emphasized that it served as a reminder for them to persevere and put in even more effort to improve the circumstances.

On December 20, 2014, two police officers, Rafael Ramos, 40, and Wenjian Liu, 32, were stationed in their car at the intersection of Myrtle and Tompkins avenues in Brooklyn.

According to witnesses, Ismaaiyl Brinsley approached the passenger window and proceeded to fire four shots from his semiautomatic handgun, striking both officers in the head and torso. After the attack, Brinsley fled into the Myrtle-Willoughby Avenues subway station, where he took his own life using the same weapon.

Earlier that day, Brinsley shot his girlfriend in Baltimore and made his way to New York. During his journey, he took to social media to express his intention of seeking revenge against the police. He referenced two incidents that had occurred recently, where police officers were responsible for the deaths of Black men: Eric Garner in Staten Island and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

“I will be giving wings to pigs today,” Brinsley wrote, accompanied by an image of a semi-automatic pistol.

Former Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, who was in charge of the NYPD during the tragedy, stated that although the incident had a negative impact on officer morale, it also served as a catalyst for the implementation of safety measures aimed at enhancing officer safety.

According to him, the tragic event brought about several positive outcomes. He mentioned that there was a significant advancement in technology adoption and enhanced safety measures for officers.

The NYPD implemented various measures to enhance their operations, including the introduction of bulletproof patrol cars and equipping officers with smartphones. Additionally, two new units were established to address intelligence-related matters.

The Strategic Response Group, which has faced some criticism, and the Critical Response Command, responsible for counter-terrorism and protest response, were created to effectively handle these sensitive tasks.

According to Bratton, on the day of the murders, important information regarding Brinsley’s plans was being transmitted from Baltimore. However, this information was relayed through outdated paper-based teletype machines and did not reach officers like Liu and Ramos, who were out on patrol.

Six years later, there was another wave of protests following the murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis. In New York, these protests and the subsequent reform efforts led to the repeal of a state law called “50-a,” which had previously kept police disciplinary records hidden from the public.

Furthermore, the protests in 2020 fueled the emergence of the “defund the police” movement, resulting in a $1 billion decrease in funding for the NYPD. Additionally, lawmakers granted the state Attorney General’s office increased powers to investigate local police departments.

The reforms implemented by the NYPD remain in effect, as the department’s budget has now recovered to its pre-“defund the police” levels, as reported by the City Council and the city’s Independent Budget Office. This budget rebound has not taken inflation into account.

According to Jim Bueermann, a former California police chief and president of Future Policing Institute, who is a part of a reform-minded policing think tank, policing has significantly improved over time.

He believes that the current state of policing is the best it has ever been in the history of the country. Bueermann highlights that police leaders are now more educated and more focused on understanding and meeting the needs of the community.

According to Bueermann, the deaths of Ramos and Liu were a tragic event that had a profound impact on the police force in New York. Similar ambush killings of officers in other parts of the country also had a significant effect on the local departments and communities.

Bueermann further noted that 2014 marked the beginning of a social movement that led to the professionalization of police departments nationwide, resulting in the recruitment of more educated officers who better represented the demographics of their communities.

While the NYPD as a whole reflects the city’s diversity, there is still an underrepresentation of people of color in leadership positions, with approximately half of the leaders being white.

Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the NYPD has reverted to a more assertive approach in policing, with a focus on cracking down on minor offenses and expressing disapproval for the cash-bail reforms implemented in 2020.

Despite the passage of time, the president of the rank-and-file NYPD officers union acknowledges that the anti-police sentiment prevalent during the tragic deaths of Liu and Ramos has not dissipated.

Patrick Hendry, president of the NYC Police Benevolent Association, emphasized the ongoing presence of a dangerous anti-police narrative that motivated the perpetrator responsible for the deaths of Ramos and Liu.

He expressed concern that this rhetoric continues to jeopardize the safety of law enforcement officers and their families. Hendry called upon the public to unite in support of the courageous police officers who carry on the noble work initiated by these fallen heroes.

Ramos and Liu’s friends and families place a great deal of importance on healing the relationship between the police and the community.

Maritza Ramos, the widow of Rafael Ramos, and Jose Falero, a friend and fellow officer of Ramos, came together to create the Detective Rafael Ramos Foundation.

This foundation is dedicated to organizing toy giveaways, where uniformed officers engage with children from their community, fostering a sense of trust and connection between law enforcement and the younger generation.

On Wednesday, the organization paid a visit to P.S. 54, also known as the Detective Rafael Ramos School, to distribute toys in anticipation of the anniversary of his passing. Approximately 100 children were delighted to receive toys and enjoyed the melodious Christmas carols performed by the NYPD band.

Maritza Ramos expressed her tragic loss when she stated, “My husband died unfortunately because someone thought that all cops are bad.” Prior to the giveaway, she emphasized the importance of changing the negative perception of law enforcement by allowing people to see cops in a positive light.

Pei Xia Chen, the wife of Wenjian Liu, established the Wenjian Liu Foundation with the aim of offering assistance to the families of fallen first-responders.

Following the tragic loss of her husband, Pei Xia Chen found solace and unwavering companionship in a black lab named Liuliu. Inspired by this experience, her foundation has successfully trained nine therapy dogs to provide support and comfort to the families of other NYPD and FDNY personnel who have experienced similar hardships.

During an interview on Wednesday, she mentioned that she has devoted considerable time to contemplating the topic of policing ever since 2014.

“The media and politicians often portray the police as evil,” she expressed. “I believe it would be beneficial to provide them with more support instead of constantly attacking them.”

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