Community Access Statement on the Deborah Danner Verdict
Below is our official statement in response to the acquittal of Sgt. Hugh Barry for the death of Deborah Danner, as well as a statement from Trinity Church Wall Street, of which Deborah was a proud member:
This is a tragedy on all levels, especially for Deborah Danner and her family and friends. The tragedies continue to pile up, with 9 more fatal EDP calls since June 2015. They are:
Mario Ocasio, 51 years old (June 2015)
Rashan Lloyd, 25 years old (June 2016)
Deborah Danner, 66 years old (October 2016)
Ariel Galarza, 49 years old (November 2016)
Dwayne Jeune, 32 years old (July 2017)
Andy Sookdeo, 29 years old (August 2017)
Miguel Richards, 31 years old (September 2017)
Cornell Lockhart 67 years old (November 2017)
Dwayne Pritchell, 48 years old (January 2018)
As has been proven in other parts of the country: fatal encounters between law enforcement and people experiencing mental health crises can be prevented with simple, common sense reforms to the way the police respond to EDP calls. Officers trained in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) methods need to be the first to respond to EDP calls. The current dispatching system is ill-equipped to appropriately respond. With each passing second, lives are put at-risk, and as we’ve unfortunately seen over and over again, fatalities ensue.
More CIT-trained officers and an appropriate dispatching system can be the difference between life and death for New Yorkers who are experiencing mental health crises. We know we can do better.
We recognize the good faith efforts of the NYPD, and appreciate the complexities of these situations. NYPD has trained thousands of officers, but we need to train many more, at least 30,000, and they must be the ones to respond to EDP calls. We remain committed to advocating for a better system for New Yorkers with mental health concerns.
Lucas Pershing, Program Manager of Advocacy and Action at Trinity Church Wall Street, said:
Deborah Danner was a beloved member of Trinity Church Wall Street and the Church of the Heavenly Rest. She was a member of the poetry group and the knitting group. Her friends are mourning the verdict and will continue to advocate for greater mental health training for all that serve the most vulnerable among us.
More Info / Get Involved
Brief Assessment of NYC’s Behavioral Health and Criminal Justice Systems
The Council of State Governments Justice Center Report (Nov. 2016)
Carla Rabinowitz
Advocacy Coordinator
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
212-780-1400, ext. 7726
