NY police harassing Guyanese in Queens

Dear Editor,
In recent days, several cops have been indicted in NY for abuses committed on civilians in Brooklyn and Manhattan.  However, many Guyanese based in Richmond Hill, Queens, are yet to have their allegations investigated about police harassment, intimidation, and excesses in their neighbourhood. So far, only in one case have the cops been brought to book on a fatal shooting of a Guyanese, but they walked free. Other allegations of abuse made by Guyanese have gone unanswered, and there has not been any follow-up to their complaints. The Queens-based Guyanese community needs to unite and pursue a more activist approach for redress to their unanswered complaints of police harassment and intimidation.  They must make elected officials aware of their grievances against the police and follow up on their complaints with police officials as well as the mayor’s office. They also need to build coalitions with other groups to combat abuses and seek the assistance of well-known activists from other ethnic groups who can help to focus attention on their grievances forcing the authorities to address egregious violations of their rights.

Recently, a Guyanese who bought a home in a white neighbourhood was repeatedly harassed and intimidated by the police in an effort to force him out of the neighbourhood. He put up resistance but he did not get much support from the disorganized Guyanese community leaders in the Richmond Hill area. A barrage of summonses from police officers and other city agents was enough to drive him out. It appears that he has caved in to the pressure and decided to cut his financial losses by moving on with his family.

Recently, the Indo-Guyanese community in Richmond Hill requested and obtained a public hearing to air their grievances of police abuse with the Queens Police Commander.  There was a huge turnout.  Many charges against the police were made, including the use of ethnic slurs against Guyanese with some alleging that police officers told them to go back to India or Guyana.  Members of the community claimed they were targeted for abuse by the police charging that similar abuse was not hurled against white ethnics in the area.  For example, the Guyanese automobile drivers were ticketed for minor matters all involving a few police officers from the police precinct. It is well established, for example, that the police dare not issue summonses to vehicles in front of a popular restaurant visited by the mob.  But any vehicle that violates parking rules in Richmond Hill is ticketed. Innocent Guyanese would be picked up and driven around in a police vehicle and aggressively interrogated in defiance of their rights. Also, it was alleged that the police would tail individuals who come out of a bar to get their car.  As soon as they drove off, the police would pull them over. It is not illegal to conduct sobriety tests on drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. But the way it is done is unethical. In addition, while drivers from the community are monitored, those drivers from other communities are not tested for DUI. It is widely believed by the complainants that the police in Richmond Hill target civilians late in the night so they can earn overtime pay.  When an officer’s shift is about to end, if he takes in a suspect, he is paid overtime to complete the paperwork for such a booking.
Many of the helpless Guyanese complained mostly about suffering psychological torture and verbal abuse that can be considered cruel and inhumane – a violation of one’s basic human rights and dignity.

The Queens’ commander listened attentively to the many complaints of police misconduct and then assured the large gathering that the police were not targeting Indo-Guyanese or other community groups. The commander suggested that Guyanese join police community groups so their issues could be heard by the police captains for the area.  He also suggested that Guyanese educate the police about their culture.  Most of the police are whites living on Long Island.  Some of the officers do not know the religious customs of fasting for Ramadan and the celebration of Phagwah.

The commander recommended that the victims file official complaints against the offending police officers and or the precinct (station) with the city’s Civilian Complaints Review Board (CCRB).  The CCRB cannot act unless there are formal complaints which lead to investigations, and then it offers recommendations for action against police officers or the precinct. Only the CCRB has the authority to review complaints and discipline police officers. But the CCRB is pro-police.  Out of hundreds of complaints annually, only a few officers get punished. So, out of fear of recrimination, Guyanese have not been willing to come forward to file charges against the police or the precinct. Thus, their complaints to the precinct go largely un-investigated and the guilty officers are not brought to book and are free to continue their abuses, as indeed they have been doing.

The police should be applauded for aggressively combatting crime.  But the authorities should also aggressively investigate those who abuse their authority by violating the basic rights of others.

The community leaders in Richmond Hill should consider having regular meetings to discuss police abuses and other matters impacting the community in order to find solutions to their many problems. One positive development out of the many allegations is there are now several Guyanese auxiliary police (assistants really) patrolling the streets.  More should be encouraged to join the force.

Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram