BK Lawmakers Applaud Passage of Police CPR Training Legislation, Briana’s Law
Senator Jesse Hamilton (D-Central Brooklyn) alongside Assembly member Felix Ortiz (D-Sunset Park, Red Hook), Council member Steve Levin (D-Brooklyn Heights, DYMBO, Williamsburg, Boerum Hill) ) will call on Governor Andrew Cuomo to sign Briana’s Law this week.
Briana’s Law requires New York Police Department (NYPD) officers to take CPR training every two years, barring exceptional, extenuating circumstances, and mandates the training at least once every four years without exception. The legislation also requires state troopers to receive CPR retraining every two years.
Under existing NYPD policy, officers receive CPR training as a cadet in the police academy, without a requirement that officers be retrained in CPR. The bill passed the Senate and Assembly in June.
Briana’s Law is named in memory of 11-year-old Briana Ojeda, who died on August 27, 2010, due to a severe asthma attack. Earlier in the day, Briana suffered an asthma attack while at a nearby playground. Briana’s mother, Carmen Torres, attempted to drive her daughter to Long Island College Hospital for medical attention when she was stopped by a police officer for driving the wrong way on a one-way street. The NYPD officer did not know how to perform CPR and Ms. Torres was allowed to proceed to the hospital but it was too late for Briana, who died a short time later.
The event is slated for 12 noon, on August 10, on the Steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan.
Golden To Hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Van At 61st Precinct
Senator Martin Golden (R-Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Marine Park) and the 61st Precinct will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for a newly purchased van on Tuesday.
Golden secured the funding during the last legislative session. The vehicle will be utilized for patrol and transport of police and auxiliary officers.
Guests at the event will include 61st Precinct Commander Captain James King and Citywide Commander of Auxiliary, Inspector Phylis Byrne.
The event is slated for 6:30 p.m., August 8, at the 61st Police Precinct at 2575 Coney Island Avenue in Gravesend.
Lander Pushes For Legislation To Protect Special Counsel Mueller
City Council member Brad Lander (D-Park Slope, Kensington, Windsor Terrace) is pushing for support for the “Special Counsel Integrity Act.”
The legislation would protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller from being removed from the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and possible ties to the Trump campaign. The bill would allow a special counsel who gets fired to appeal the decision before a panel of federal judges. If the panel decides the removal was unwarranted, the special counsel would get reinstated.
On May 17, Mueller was appointed by the Justice Department to head the probe into Russian collusion in the 2016 U.S. election. Mueller currently seems to be a target of President Trump.
Under current regulations, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has the power to fire Mueller. Rosenstein has said he would not fire Mueller without good cause, but a top Justice Department official under Rosenstein could choose to carry out Trump’s order. The bill would retroactively take effect May 17, the day Rosenstein appointed Mueller special counsel.
“While I hope you are also getting some time away with your family this summer, our work to stand up for civil rights and defend our democracy can’t take a vacation,” said Lander.
