“No sum of money can make this family whole, but hopefully the Garner family can find some peace and finality from today’s settlement,” Mayor de Blasio said yesterday. “By reaching a resolution, family and other loved ones can move forward even though we know they will never forget this tragic incident.”
Eric Garner’s death was ruled a homicide by the coroner’s office when police officer Daniel Pantaleo used an illegal chokehold on him while attempting an arrest. Garner’s family initially requested $75 million, but settled for $5.9 million instead. Officer Pantaleo was never indicted in Garner’s death and is still working with the police department.
In an interview with the New York Post, Ed Mullins of the Police Benevolent Association expressed his anger and frustration at the settlement;
“Where is the justice for New York taxpayers?” he asked. ” Where is the consistency in the civil system? In my view, the city has chosen to abandon its fiscal responsibility to all of its citizens and genuflect to the select few who curry favor with the city government.”
“Mr. Garner’s family should not be rewarded simply because he repeatedly chose to break the law and resist arrest,” Mullins concluded.
