NAACP Protest Calls For Detective To Be Fired Following Acquittal

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — Dozens of demonstrators braved scorching temperatures to protest the acquittal of Detective Michael Vaccaro and to call for his dismissal from the force on Friday morning.

"New Rochelle Detective Michael Vaccaro was acquitted of charges of attempted assault after Det. Vaccaro is shown on video punching Malik Fogg, a young Black man, several times," Minister Mark McLean, President of the New Rochelle Branch of the NAACP said announcing Friday's action. "This system has once again shown that it is either unwilling or unable to hold rogue police officers accountable when they brutalize our community. We are determined to continue to insist for accountability for those who are entrusted with protecting our community."

Vaccaro had faced misdemeanor charges related to the incident. The detective insisted that he acted to protect an elderly woman who was being harassed and threatened. Prosecutors, however, said the charge stemmed from the detective's actions after uniformed officers arrived.

Vaccaro was suspended following the incident, in February of last year.

The speakers who arrived on the courthouse steps in 90-degree heat, cited now infamous video of the off-duty detective punching and kicking Malik Fogg as ample evidence of abuse. Activists spoke out both against the detective's acquittal and the fact that the detective at the center of the controversy remains suspended rather than fired more than a year after the police department began their own internal investigation into the incident.

Police officials referred the investigation to the Westchester County District Attorney's Office, resulting in the criminal charges.

"If Detective Vaccaro is going to be reinstated to the New Rochelle Police Department, what message does that send?" Malik Fogg's attorney Mayo Bartlett asked those gathered.

Fogg, who was involved in the confrontation and is seen being punched by the detective on video, still has a pending federal lawsuit against Vaccaro, the police department and the city.

"In the news conference on the steps of New Rochelle City Court this morning, I expressed my astonishment at Judge Costa’s decision and renewed my plea to City authorities, from a year ago, to terminate Detective Vaccaro’s employment," County Legislator Damon Maher said Friday. "I call on all my colleagues in elective office to do the same."

Det. Vaccaro's supporters, however, say that the detective put himself in harm's way to protect someone who couldn't protect herself and that Fogg is the villain, not the hero of this story.

"During the trial, the prosecution presented a narrative where Malik Fogg was a victim, and Detective Vaccaro, who began to film an ongoing incident out of concern for an elderly woman under attack, was the violent perpetrator," the New Rochelle Police Benevolent Association said in a statement released following the verdict. "The District Attorney’s office excused Malik Fogg’s violent, criminal actions — during their argument at trial and by dropping the criminal charges entirely — because they believe that on February 15, 2021, Fogg was having a bad day."

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