The NYPD says they have been gradually shifting away from the old model of police training. It was also clear that the writers of Kung Fu were likewise running out of good plot . Thank you for everyone's support. One officer testified that cops are taught to beware of a possible ambush on vertical patrols specifically. A former print journalist and television producer, Liang made the jump to directing with 2014's 9-Man, about a streetball game played in Chinatowns throughout North Americaan intriguing fusion of sports doc and cultural history. Peter Liang became an officer in June 2013, which likely meant there was one training officer for about a dozen rookies. At the trial of Peter Liang, the jurors kept returning to the 11.5-pound trigger of his New York Police Department standard-issue 9mm Glock. A jury convicted Liang of second-degree manslaughter in February for Gurley's death. Im not saying that its OK for the White cops to get away. [42][43], More than 3,000 protesters, mostly of Chinese American descent, showed up at New York City Hall in March 2015 to support Liang. Unfortunately, in the case of Peter Liang, this power was poorly used indeed. Officer Peter Liang, 27, had his firearm drawn. He added that the Gurley family insisted on Liangs paying as part of the settlement. In April, a judge reduced Liang's manslaughter conviction to criminally negligent homicide and sentenced Liang to five years probation and 800 hours of community service. AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. Akai Gurley, a 28-year-old black man, was fatally shot on November 20, 2014, in Brooklyn, New York City, United States, by a New York City Police Department officer. Actor Kenny Leu ( Midway) leads the movie A Shot Through the Wall, inspired by the story of former New York City police officer Peter Liang, who was convicted of criminally negligent homicide. "You can't see what's behind the wall, you can't see what's above," he explained as he walked the I-team through what a vertical patrol would entail. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? On 14th, the first competition day after the opening of the 28th Olympic Games August13, women's . I guess I came to as a concerned citizen, knowing that this is like, a really important issue and policing is essential and needs some like real real change. That became an effective vehicle to offer a diverse range of perspectives in the film. Correction: An earlier version of this story referred to Liang's former partner as Sean Landau. New York City Police officer (NYPD) Peter Liang is led from the court room at the Brooklyn Supreme court in the Brooklyn borough of New York February 11, 2016. [46][47][48] State Assemblyman Ron Kim stated, "I do not believe true justice prevailed. New York City to pay $4.1 million settlement in killing of Akai Gurley. [3] Liang turned himself in to authorities the next day and was arraigned. Former New York Police Department officer Peter Liang won't spend a day in prison. The. In his spare time, he likes to explore cities and make pointless maps. The bullet ricocheted off a wall and pierced the chest of Gurley, who was walking 14 steps below. Many of Liang's supporters demanded that all killers should be prosecuted and that there should be no such thing as selective prosecution, scapegoating, or racism. "From retraining our officers to adding body cameras to launching neighborhood policing, our administration is taking significant steps to strengthen the relationship between our officers and the communities they serve," deputy press secretary Monica Klein said in a statement to NBC News. Among those not convicted is Daniel Pantaleo, the cop who was caught on video killing Eric Garner, who posed no physical threat, by placing him in a clearly illegal chokehold for 19 seconds during which Garner stated that he couldnt breathe 11 times. The NYC Law Department told NBC News that the city will pay $4.1 million, the Housing Authority $400,000, and former NYPD officer Peter Liang $25,000. And indeed, at times, it can seem like that Asian Americans are so privileged and well-integrated into the institutions of power in this country that the community feels compelled to defend it, as the pro-Liang protesters defended the NYPD. Liang, a rookie who lost his badge after his conviction, had faced a maximum prison sentence of 15 years for the death of Akai Gurley, 28. Even if we assume that Liang had unintentionally shot Gurley due to a misfire, his subsequent failure to get medical help for him is still unacceptable. By Louis Chan, AsAmNews National Correspondent. A jury convicted Liang of second-degree manslaughter in February for Gurley's death. Peter Liang is not the victim here just because the system did not cover up his mistakes. He fired once and the bullet ricocheted, killing Akai Gurley, who was also in the stairwell. On the issue of NYPD patrolling, he considered it essential to public safety; he also characterized the notions of Liang being a scapegoat [16] and police brutality cases somehow being linked together to be non-existent. Two rookie police officers were assigned to the Pink Houses where they were conducting routine vertical patrols,[18][19] in which officers scan a public housing complex from the roof to the ground floor, stopping on each level. . Assistant District Attorney[70] Joseph Alexis claimed the killing wasn't an accident and that Liang chose to place the finger on the trigger. Shortly after Liangs sentencing, people carrying Black Lives Matter signs gathered outside the courthouse, while those supporting him aggregated on the other side. He asserted to have been startled when Stansbury pushed open a rooftop door in a place where drug dealing was rampant. Anger as cop escapes jail for shooting death of unarmed black man. In all honesty, I was blown away by the response the Chinese-American community fielded in defense of Peter Liang. On February 11, 2016, a year and a day after his indictment, the jury found Peter Liang guilty of Manslaughter and Official Misconduct. But there is a second, stronger argument: Liang was a victim of selective prosecution and racial scapegoating. [79][80] The Village Voice described the incident as part of a year of public relations disasters for the NYPD. [76], The incident received national and international coverage, in part due to the recent police shootings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner in Staten Island. Even a $1 contribution goes a long way. is B. your C. are D. too E. AA: Hello! [14], The Pink Houses are considered to be among the worst housing developments in New York. Former New York City police Officer Peter Liang will not serve jail time in the 2014 shooting death of Akai Gurley in a New York housing project. He was immediately fired after the highly . The rookie NYPD Officer Peter Liang who gunned down an unarmed man in a poorly lit stairwell of public housing broke down on the stand Monday as he recalled the deadly shooting. Liang, who is Chinese-American, has hired two former NYPD officers as his defense lawyers: Rae Koshetz, a former deputy commissioner who oversaw internal disciplinary trials for NYPD members for. Terence Zhao '19 originally hails from Beijing, China, before immigrating to the US and settling in Arcadia, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles. And there was a little bit of a bridging, of opinions and, and listening. I'm not going to ignore all of this and go to bat for him just because he's also Chinese. Theres (also) all this secondary trauma and tertiary trauma that happens to the folks that surround them and are working with them that I didnt really anticipate until I was in it.. I mean, I think they felt like, the emotions were so volatile, and it was such a complicated, and, you know, complex story that this is sort of not the thing they wanted, highlighted down the line, Liang told AsAmNews. We bring the right treatments to the right patients at the right time. ", Some protesters outside the courthouse showed support for Liang, holding signs that said "tragic accident. On April 19th, a New York State Supreme Court in Brooklyn sentenced former NYPD officer Peter Liang to five years of probation for the shooting of unarmed Black man Akai Gurley. He took a brief break from the witness stand to compose himself after turning away to hide his tears. then guest-starred as Jordan Stewart in an episode of the action drama TV series "Baywatch" (1993), played Ben in the TV . Normally, I give the benefit of the doubt to the police, even when it is a gray area that theyre in. With our combined strengths in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, we are better equipped to drive personalised healthcare forward. Filmmaker Ursula Liang managed to get inside both camps and gave viewers a unique look in her film Down the Dark Stairwell. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. ", He continued: "The jury, the voice of the Brooklyn community, agreed and returned the verdict of guilty against Mr. Liang, who is now a convicted felon, forfeited his career as a police officer and must now always live with the fact that he recklessly caused Mr. Gurleys death. We are invited to the party, but never quite made to feel belong. At one point a Chinese protester supporting Peter Liang walked across the street to protesters in support of Akai Gurley and began a dialogue. Photo: Peter Obi, Goodluck Okechukwu Source: Twitter. When he fired. The money will be placed in a fund for Gurley's four-year-old daughter, Akaila, which she won't have access to without court approval until she turns 18, according to the Daily News, which quoted Scott Rynecki, the attorney representing Kimberly Ballinger, the mother of Gurley's daughter and Gurleys domestic partner. Similarity to the shooting of Timothy Stansbury Jr. Akai Kareem Gurley's funeral service program, December 6, 2014, Brown Memorial Baptist Church, Brooklyn, Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York, List of killings by law enforcement officers in the United States, "Former NYPD Cop Peter Liang's Guilty Verdict Leaves a Community Divided", "A Guilty Verdict in the Akai Gurly Case", "Liang had 'thousand-yard stare' after staircase shooting, fellow cop testifies", "How Should Asian-Americans Feel About the Peter Liang Protests? Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, Sylvia Palmer, mother of Akai Gurley, speaks outside state Supreme Court in Brooklyn after hearing NYPD Officer Peter Liang testify about Gurley's 2014 death in a housing project stairwell. The rookie NYPD Officer Peter Liang who gunned down an unarmed man in a poorly lit stairwell of public housing broke down on the stand Monday as he recalled the deadly shooting. For 5 years, Calcano patrolled stairwells on the Upper West Side and Harlem, trying to stop criminal activity. "[49], Nearly 15,000 people protested on behalf of Liang in New York on February 20, 2016,[50] with similar turnouts across the United States that day. ", "New York City, Peter Liang to Pay Over $4 Million Settlement to Family of Akai Gurley", "As civil suit dismissed, Peter Liang expected to not appeal conviction", " Where Do Funds Raised for Peter Liang Go? He died within a few minutes. Officers Patrick Espeut and Diara Cruz were wounded by a gunman who later killed himself. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands. A day after Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson recommended that former New York police officer Peter Liang not serve time in prison for the fatal shooting of Akai Gurley, an unarmed black. Overview. I live in Hopkinton, which is known for being the starting point of the Boston Marathon. When he fired his gun in a pitch-dark public housing stairwell, he at first thought he had hurt nothing but his career. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Shaun Landau, Liangs former partner who was originally named in the lawsuit, doesnt have to pay because he was released from the complaint, Brown said. [66][67], On April 19, 2016, Justice Chun reduced Liang's conviction from manslaughter to criminally negligent homicide then sentenced Liang to five years of probation and 800 hours community service. Dr. Peter Liang is a gastroenterologist in New York, New York and is affiliated with Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System-Brooklyn. See Evanna Lynch Now At 31 He Played 'Chunk' In Goonies. It takes the first spot on the medal standings with six medals including another silver and bronze medals. Liang was convicted of manslaughter and official misconduct on February 11, 2016, and he was immediately dismissed by the Police Department. "They are solely dedicated to mentor and train new recruits when they graduate from the police academy., Better training is welcomed by Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch, who believes the Liang verdict will greatly impact the way officers do their jobs. He received his medical degree from . But that moment has passed. A jury found Liang guilty of manslaughter in February 2016 and was sentenced to 15 years in jail. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Gurley and his girlfriend entered the seventh-floor stairwell, fourteen steps below them. We're revolutionising personalised healthcare. Inside the Peter Liang-Akai Gurley police shooting case, Kamala Harris vows to lift up Asian small businesses, Vietnamese Am man files lawsuit against county deputy, Walmart for false arrest, Ronny Chieng and Hasan Minhaj roast each other on The Daily Show, Two Native Hawaiian men sentenced to prison for hate crimes against White man, US-China tensions bring fresh wave of AAPI xenophobia, Meet Todd Gloria the first AAPI Mayor for San Diego, Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda in a public feud with other band members, Michelle Yeoh wins SAG Award for best actress. AsAmNews is a community of users interested in reading, learning and commenting on news, events, people & issues in the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander communities. "I'm just confused about what happened. [23] During trial testimony, officers testified that they were taught during academy training to have their guns out at times for fear of possible ambush or when they felt unsafe, and that they were specifically trained to take out their firearm as they approached a roof landing because it was considered dangerous. But no, he's a Chinese, so no one is coming out. Its a paradoxical existence. It pitted the unjust death of an innocent young black man against the unjust scapegoating of a young Asian police officer who was frightened, poorly trained, and who committed a terrible accident. Advocates for police accountability are watching Liang's trial closely. She quickly saw that when she saw the huge crowds at rallies which turned out in support of Liang in the Chinese community across the country. Down the Dark Stairwell plays next at a film festival in New Zealand. What made the charges be reduced? Officer Liang is not merely a bad apple, though thankfully he has been stripped of his gun and will likely face a grand jury in coming months. "It was a terribly tragic accident, we aren't looking to lessen the death," said Lynch. And back then, it made sense. He then shoved open the stairwell door with his right shoulder with his gun pointed downwards. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. His trial started on January 25, 2016. Gurley's girlfriend, Melissa Butler, who was with Gurley in the stairwell the night of the shooting, cried as she was escorted out of the courtroom today by Assemblyman Charles Barron. March 3, 2016. But recent events have shown how minorities can support each other, she said. Some 40 people gathered at the Pink Houses in Brooklyn Saturday to protest prosecutors plans to recommend no jail at the April 14 sentencing of ex-cop Peter Liang. Whats justice, whats right, its also about the people who get left behind., Feature Images via Getty (left), Kings Road Pictures (right). 'I just turned, and the gun went off,' Liang said, explaining that his body 'tensed up'. [21] The NYPD's policy on whether an officer should keep a weapon holstered on such patrols is purposely vague and the decision as to when to take out a firearm is left to the discretion of the officers, according to Police Commissioner Bill Bratton. Justice was served for him. Partner of NYPD killer cop says he didn't try to perform CPR Isabel Oakeshott receives 'menacing' message from Matt Hancock, Alex Murdaugh unanimously found GUILTY of murder of wife and son, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' 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Others, however, said Liang had to be held accountable for his actions because he took a life. Earlier this year, Liangs conviction drew fierce backlash from New Yorks Chinese-American community. . See Rivkah Reyes Now At 30. I remember when I first heard the news, and spewed out. "But it's also a terrible tragedy for this officer.". See Bonnie Wright Now At He Played 'Jack' In Hook. Peter Moreno, a former NYPD captain who used to train new officers, says one-on-one instruction with a more experienced officer is invaluable. Liang and Shechtman are now deciding whether to appeal his conviction. The New York Police Department employed Peter Liang to protect the public trust. She persevered because she saw this as an important moment in Asian American history which would remain pivotal years from now. 'The sadness, the emptiness in my heart, the emotional depression is still overwhelming. "But we have to work constantly to do them the right way," said de Blasio. They see it as a counterpoint to cases in which grand juries declined to indict white police officers in the killings of unarmed black men, including Eric Garner in New York and Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Landau, like Liang, was also within his two-year probationary period and his firing after the trial was permitted by his contract. Following that hunch became Liang's second documentary, " Down a Dark Stairwell .". 584 Forest Ave, Staten Island, NY 10310. Follow NBC Asian America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr. She set out to dial down the volume a little bit and not focus on the hot and testy stuff happening on the street. Gurley was black. Peter Liang, a Hong Kong-born officer with the NYPD, shot Akai Gurley, 28, while on patrol with his partner Shaun Landau. On the final day of the trial of NYPD officer Peter Liang, the prosecution argued that the rookie officer intentionally fired his weapon in the dark stairwell of East New York's Pink Houses,. Liang made a point of personally attending rallies and introducing herself to gain trust with the Gurley camp. Its a truly monumental and unprecedented show of force, demonstrating a level of organization and mobilization that neither I nor anyone else thought the community was capable of achieving and man, it was a breathtakingly powerful force to behold. Officer Richard Neri killed Stansbury, 19, on a roof of the Louis Armstrong Houses in Brooklyn at about 1 am. I think what is important is to recognise that all JET-Ps basically consist of a mix of concessional loans, market-based locals, grants and guarantees from public and private entities. The New York Police Department declined to comment on the allegation, citing the ongoing trial. No decisions have been made and its a complicated chess board," Shechtman said. The case sparked heated debate within the Asian-American community, with some believing Liang was made a scapegoat to compensate for a lack of indictments of white officers involved in police-related deaths of black men. [74][75], After the settlement of Liang's trial, about $260,000 of the money raised for Liang's defence was returned to the donors. Chinese Americans are arguing that it is unjust that Liang got convicted while the many white cops who have killed unarmed Black people before him walked free. Their office accepts new patients. me with just its sheer scale. Peter Liang. 'I didn't know if I could do it better,' Liang said, noting he didn't know what training Butler might have. No comments have so far been submitted. Q SO-KO, Nagoya, 11 March - 7 May. Shot over several years, it tracks the seemingly divergent protests that emerged as Peter Liang faced . Before the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the death of George Floyd, there was Peter Liang. They Played 'Katie' On School of Rock. Among those not convicted is Daniel Pantaleo, the cop who was, killing Eric Garner, who posed no physical threat, by placing him in a clearly illegal chokehold for 19 seconds during which Garner. Still, building trust in her own community wasnt easy. Still she admits producing the film elicited strong emotions in her as well. He's a rookie police officer who has come up through. Brown, who is also representing Liang in that suit, said he filed a motion to dismiss two months ago, joined by the city and NYCHA, and could hear back on a decision as early as this week. "Until we find a better way and safer way, and one that the community understands, but also allows police officers to do their job in a safe manner," Mullins said. "[72] Furthermore, the light had been out of service for a number of days without repair. "I just turned, and the gun went off," Liang testified. [15] Patrick Lynch, head of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York, characterizes them as "among the most dangerous projects in the city" with dimly lit stairwells presenting a particular danger. [38], Gurley's funeral was conducted December 6 at the Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Fort Greene. A daily dose of Asian America's essential stories - in under 5 minutes, 2022 NextShark, Inc. All rights reserved.Terms & Conditions. Liang emigrated to the United States as a child to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, with his parents and grandmother; he also has a younger brother in college. In evaluating the possibility of equipment failure, they concluded that the 11.5-pound (51-newton) trigger could not have been fired unintentionally. The young man and father was killed. That money will be invested in annuities to provide around $10 million for Akaila over her life, the Daily News reported. Convicted former NYPD officer Peter Liang was conducting a vertical patrol the night his gun went off in a dark stairwell. She said the organizers had a real emotional stake in what happened and that spilled over to her film crew as well. With George Floyd, the Hmong officer brought the Peter Liang and Akai Gurley case back up as a topic, Long told the South China Morning Post, referring to Tou Thao, the Hmong American officer present at the time of Floyds arrest. ", "Chinese social media platform plays a role in U.S. rallies for NYPD officer", "Peter Liang To Be Sentenced Tuesday for Manslaughter Conviction", "NYPD cop Peter Liang gets community service for killing Akai Gurley", "Bratton: Fatal Police-Involved Shooting of Unarmed Man at Brooklyn Housing Complex 'Unfortunate Tragedy', "Man killed by NYPD rookie planned to surprise mom in Florida", "Residents of Brooklyn Housing Project Stay Wary After Officer Is Indicted", "Living in fear at the dark & deadly hellhole houses", "Akai Gurley's Death Shines Harsh Light On Vertical Patrols In Public Housing", "In Tears On Stand, NYPD Cop Recalls Fatal Shooting of Akai Gurley", "Officer Peter Liang, on Stand, Breaks Down as He Recalls Brooklyn Killing", "Here's What It'd Take To Convict The NYPD Cop Who Killed Akai Gurley", "Rookie cops often assigned to dangerous 'vertical patrols', "Tragic justice served in manslaughter conviction of NYPD Officer Peter Liang for Akai Gurley's killing", "Stairwell shooting cop trained to have gun drawn: fellow officers", "NYPD Officer Pleads Not Guilty in Shooting Death of Unarmed Man", "Liang's appeal to focus on jurors handling his gun", "Officer's Errant Shot Kills Unarmed Brooklyn Man", "Panicked rookie NYPD officer fatally shoots unarmed 28-year-old man in Brooklyn's Pink Houses project", "NYPD officer breaks down during testimony about Akai Gurley shooting", "Lupica: Shooting of Akai Gurley doesn't make East New York into Ferguson, or officer into a criminal", "In Princeton, Chinese Protesters Charge NYPD with Scapegoating Officer Liang", "Liang case underlines issue of race in NYC", "Peter Liang is unlucky to be an Asian New York cop", "A Police Killing Puts Heavy Expectations on a Prosecutor", "Grand Jury To Hear Case Of Unarmed Man Shot By New York Cop In Stairwell", "De Blasio doubts Liang conviction will have chilling effect on police", "Relatives Mourn Akai Gurley, An Innocent Man Killed By The NYPD", "Memorial for Akai Gurley, Unarmed Man Shot by NYPD, Set for Today", "Residents See Little Change Since Cop Killed Innocent Man In Darkened Stairwell", "Dangerous NYPD Assignment In The Spotlight At Officer's Trial After Bronx Shooting", "Shootings in Public Housing Project Highlight Risks of Stairwell Patrols", "Is Police Officer Peter Liang a Scapegoat? [37][21], When asked by reporters, Mayor Bill De Blasio did not take any sides in this issue, commenting that it was a "tragedy" to Gurley's family and requesting respect to the court's verdict. Peter Liang. So, when Liang was convicted, it was a watershed for Asian Americans. The late Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson was not of sound mind during his final months in office, one of his top prosecutors told The Post on Tuesday. A new film based on a 2014 case involving an Asian American police officer who fatally shot an innocent African American man while patrolling New York City is currently in post-production. "Its just been really hard..