NYPD Commissioner allows Bronx officer involved in fatal car-stop shooting to retain his position.

In a controversial decision following an incident from October 2019, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has determined that Lt. Jonathan Rivera acted within departmental guidelines when he fatally shot motorist Allan Feliz during a traffic stop in the Bronx. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch reached this conclusion despite a prior recommendation from Deputy Commissioner Rosemarie Maldonado, who had found Rivera guilty of first-degree assault and suggested his dismissal from the force.

Allan Feliz, 31, was pulled over by Rivera and two other officers for not wearing a seatbelt near Woodlawn Cemetery. During the stop, it was revealed that the driver’s license Feliz presented actually belonged to his brother, who had multiple minor warrants. The situation escalated when officers asked Feliz to exit the vehicle for a pat-down, prompting him to attempt to flee in his Volkswagen. As Feliz tried to drive away, both Rivera and Officer Edward Barrett were engaged in a struggle to remove him from the car.

Rivera discharged his Taser at Feliz and subsequently threatened him with his handgun during the melee. As the vehicle surged forward, Rivera fired his weapon, resulting in Feliz’s death. In her nine-page decision, Tisch noted that Rivera believed he was acting to protect Officer Barrett from potential harm, asserting that the shooting was warranted given the belief that Barrett was at risk of being run over.

A year following the incident, New York State Attorney General Letitia James cleared Rivera of criminal charges but critically examined police tactics, questioning the appropriateness of threatening to use lethal force without prior justification. Despite the attorney general’s concerns, Rivera has found support among some within the NYPD, including Lou Turco, the head of the Lieutenants Benevolent Association, who commended Tisch’s decision as a demonstration of support for officers acting in good faith.

Conversely, the family of Allan Feliz has expressed profound disappointment and anger over Tisch’s ruling. In a public statement, they condemned the decision as a failure to seek accountability for the loss of their loved one, highlighting a lack of allegiance to community safety. This incident continues to raise significant concerns regarding police conduct and accountability in New York City, revealing the ongoing tension between law enforcement practices and community relations.

As discussions around police reform and accountability persist, this case underscores the complexities involved in assessing police use of force and the impact of such incidents on affected families and communities.