Cops cleared in killing
Acted within law, says commish, angering family and pols
NYPD Police Commissioner Edward Caban on Friday cleared two police officers of any wrongdoing in the killing of Kawaski Trawick, drawing sharp and immediate rebuke from the man’s family and police reform advocates who have for nearly five years called for the officers to be fired.
In a late Friday afternoon press release, the NYPD said Caban “has determined that two New York City Police Department officers involved in the fatal shooting of Kawaski Trawick in April 2019 acted within the law for their actions leading up to the 32-year-old man’s tragic death.”
Police Officers Brendan Thompson and Herbert Davis were captured on body-worn camera and surveillance video ordering Trawick to drop the knife he held in his kitchen on April 14, 2019. The cops had pushed open his door after Trawick had called 911 earlier when he was locked out of his Bronx apartment.
The encounter lasted less than two minutes, ending when Thompson shot at Trawick four times, killing him. The 32-year-old personal trainer had suffered from mental health issues.
The officers were cleared of wrongdoing in an internal NYPD investigation and by Bronx prosecutors, but police delayed release of the cam video capturing the shooting to the watchdog agency tasked with looking into potential misuse of force by cops.
“My thoughts and condolences are with the Trawick family who have been fighting for justice for five years while mourning the tragic loss of their son,” said Avra Rice, the interim chair of the Civilian Complaint Review Board.
Trawick’s parents blasted the NYPD and Mayor Adams for allowing the cops to remain on the force.
“Thompson and Davis broke into my son’s home and murdered him within seconds, without even attempting to administer aid. They should have already been fired but Mayor Adams and the NYPD don’t seem to care about protecting New Yorkers from cops who kill,” Ellen and Rickie Trawick said.
Some elected officials were quick to voice their displeasure with the decision to clear the officers of wrongdoing.
“Kawaski Trawick was killed by police while in his home and experiencing a mental health crisis. Armed police should never have been the city’s response, but on arrival, they escalated the incident, with tragic results,” Public Advocate Jumaane Williams said in a statement.
“The failure to take any disciplinary action against the NYPD officers who killed Kawaski Trawick is incredibly disturbing and sends the message that our current system is unable to hold officers accountable for the most serious misconduct which takes the life of a New Yorker,” City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said.
“Ultimately, the Trawick family and all New Yorkers are left without the accountability they deserve from the city’s police department.”