Fathers Killed By NYPD Cops Have Not Seen Justice, Families Say

NEW YORK CITY — Saheed Vassell’s son spent Father’s Day laying flowers on his grave. Eric Garner’s family did what they always do on Sunday — they went to church. Delrawn Small’s sister had a healing ceremony on Coney Island, where she threw flowers into the ocean and prayed.

“We just try to find some way to get through that day,” said Victoria Davis.

Davis' brother was shot dead by Officer Wayne Isaacs in front of Small’s 3-month-old son, then acquitted of all charges even though he shot an unarmed man, failed to administer first aid, and lied about what happened.

“Any civilian who did what Isaacs did that night would be arrested,” his sister said.

An unarmed Delrawn Small was shot dead by Police Officer Wayne Isaacs, the father of an infant son, almost two years ago. Photo courtesy of the Small family.

Davis was one of several family members to gather on the steps of City Hall one day after Father’s Day to express outrage that the NYPD officers who killed Vassell, Garner and Small had yet to be punished, and, in some cases, got pay bumps.

“De Blasio is giving raises for them killing my son,” said Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, who died when Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo held him in an illegal chokehold.

Carr told reporters Pantaleo has since seen a $20,000 pay increase and the NYPD has yet to bring charges against Pantaleo, despite a Civilian Complaint Review Board that found he was responsible for Garner's death.

“Fire Danny Pantaleo and the other officers,” Carr demanded.

Gwenn Carr demanded justice for her son Eric Garner on the steps of City Hall on Monday.

Both Carr and Davis know the names of the police officers they blame for the death of their loved ones, but Eric Vassell, the father of the man shot dead almost three months ago, is still waiting.

“He should not have been shot down and murdered by the police,” said Vassell. “He should have been able to spend Father’s Day with me and his 15-year-old son.”

Saheed Vassell died on a Crown Heights street corner when police officers, who mistakenly believed the metal pipe in his hand was a gun, shot him repeatedly.

The Vassells have repeatedly pleaded with the city to release unedited video of the shooting and the names of the officers involved, and have even filed a $25 million lawsuit, but as of Monday the NYPD has failed to do so.

“Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner O’Neill must stop hiding the basic information and must provide transparency by releasing the names,” he said. “Saheed was known and loved.”

Crown Heights residents took to the streets after news broke that Saheed Vassell had been shot dead by police.

Family members were joined by Brooklyn City Councilmen Antonio Reynoso — who accused Mayor de Blasio of “cowardice” — of Bushwick, Brad Lander of Park Slope and Jumaane Williams of Flatbush.

“People are getting raises on Father’s Day," said Williams, "While other fathers are still dead."

The NYPD did not immediately respond to Patch’s request for comment.

Photos by Kathleen Culliton