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Blog: Is the Police Officer’s Association throwing Liang Under The Bus Again

By Shirley Lew

The Liang case so far has revealed a continuous systematic victimization of Asians and other people of color.

Another white officer is being shielded from any misconduct by the NYPD and it is person of color, ex-NYPD Officer Peter Liang paying for the sins for misbehaving white officers again.

Officer Melissa Brown, the CPR instructor that fed answers to Liang and his partner Shaun Landau during a shoddy CPR training , left them both unqualified to administer CPR to a dying man, Akai Gurley in 2014.

An investigation by the NYPD on its CPR training program was triggered by Landau’s testimony during the Liang trial last month.  He said the instructor provided the answers during class and that there was not enough time to practice on any of the mannequins.

Last month, lawyers for the Gurley family urged the NYPD to investigate.

Man holds sign, “Justice Not Politics” during a Rally in Support for Peter Liang in Brooklyn on Feb. 20, 2016

Patrick J. Lynch, the president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, released a statement in defense of Brown.

We are convinced that when a full review of the facts is concluded it will be clear that the training officer did her job properly. “The P.B.A. will not allow one of our members to be scapegoated for an ineffective training program.

Brown is now on desk duty with no badge nor gun since March 9.

During a vertical patrol in Brooklyn in 2014, Gurley was killed by a ricocheted bullet from Liang’s gun. Neither Liang and Landau both felt qualified to perform CPR on Gurley.

Last month, a jury found Liang guilty of manslaughter and is now facing a sentence of up to 15 years. Sentencing is set for April 14. Both Liang and Landau have been fired from the NYPD.

The irony here is that Lynch made no quick statement to buffer Liang when he was initially charged, yet he say’s he’s sure Brown will be clear of any misconduct. But, where were these sentiments for Liang? Did the PBA throw Liang under the bus? Some following the case closely say the PBA did and it appears he is thrown under the bus again. Liang doesn’t seem to get a break even after the trial.

AsAmNews reached out to the Senior Director of the Chinese Free Masons, Karlin Chan for his reaction.

There is a double standard that Lynch applies when it comes to defending officers. He has repeatedly been very vocal in defending officers of obvious wrongdoing, but has not issued any statement in defense of Peter Liang. This officer, Brown, being disciplined is a white woman, so it may also imply that Lynch is a racist, what message does this send to Asian NYPD officers?

What is your reactions to Lynch’s statement about Brown?

How do you feel about Chan’s response?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

 

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5 COMMENTS

  1. RE: Is the Police Officer’s Association throwing Liang under the bus again: This is is obviously unfair. This CPR instructor has shown to have been delinquent in her duties multiple times with hundreds of cadets under her instruction at any given single event. Officer Liang was a young and inexperienced Rookie. He was clearly not trained, qualified nor skilled enough to intervene in medical procedures. Though he was certified, he was not ready to save Akai Gurley’s life with CPR that tragic day. The failure of the P.B.A. to let Asian American officer Peter Liang get thrown under the bus, while a Caucasian instructor is shielded with their organization’s statement is very blatant, obvious and shameful.

  2. RE: Is the Police Officer’s Association throwing Liang under the bus again?: from the New York Times after the verdict, “Patrick J. Lynch, the president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, the city’s largest police union, denounced the verdict, saying it would have “a chilling effect on police officers across the city because it criminalizes a tragic accident.”” Lynch and the union denounced the initial indictment; some have argued that the union’s response to the indictment was not as vigorous as its responses to indictments or investigations into white officer misconduct, but I don’t think Shirley Lew has described any facts which justifies characterizing the union as “throwing Liang under the bus”. Karlin Chan’s comments betray him as either ignorant or reckless with the truth.

    • RE: Is the Police Officer Association throwing Liang under the bus again: Explain the absence of PBA delegates or officers present en masse during any of the proceedings. That statement after the verdict was just damage control. Get a grip of reality.

      • RE: Is the police officer association throwing Liang under the bus again: His finger was on the trigger. He got spooked. He killed someone recklessly (yes, by accident but recklessly). Why can’t you get a grip of reality? The jury didn’t buy his excuse that his finger was never on the trigger. 12 lbs of finger pressure. The testimony was that it takes 12 lbs of finger pressure to fire Liang’s gun. YOU get a grip on reality.

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