Dan Donovan, the moderate Republican candidate for the vacant 11th Congressional District seat, yesterday, did not rule out possible support for national justice reform legislation.
Donovan, the Staten Island District Attorney, who convened the grand jury that exonerated any police from criminal charges in the choke hold death of Eric Garner, was asked if he would support such legislation yesterday following yet another death of a black man in police custody in Baltimore.
“I will look at anything, but people are asking me to comment on bills I’ve never even seen. Bills that haven’t even been proposed yet so its irresponsible to say you would support something or not support something without even seeing it,” said Donovan, adding that there has to be some national healing between some local communities and the police departments.
“In New York City there is an overwhelming number of people in these communities that want more police officers, and they feel safer in their communities because of what the police have done. Has there been cases of abuse? Of coarse, and those cases should be addresses, but when people generalize things it becomes dangerous. I’ve been saying all along that difficult cases make bad laws. We want to change laws right away because of some difficult cases we have now,” said Donovan.
Donovan’s comments came as Brooklyn Congressman Hakkem Jeffries, together with officials of Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network and the family of Eric Garner ready to announce federal legislation against police use of excessive force. Details of the measure were unclear at post time.
Donovan did reiterate his views that he opposes any legislation that mandates a special prosecutor anytime there’s a citizen death when a police officer is involved.
“I don’t believe there should be a special prosecutor just because a police officer is involved. District Attorneys are elected and accountable to the community,” said Donovan, who added in cases where the DA has a direct connection such as being a relative or friend to the police officer involved there may be a need for a special prosecutor.
Donovan is running against Democrat City Councilman Vinnie Gentile in the May 5 special election. The district includes Staten Island and parts of Southwest Brooklyn.
