Latest news with #JonathanRivera
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Yahoo
NYPD commissioner won't fire officer who killed a man during traffic stop
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City's police commissioner has declined to fire a police officer who shot and killed a man during a traffic stop, rejecting a recommendation from an administrative judge. The dead man's family is protesting the decision. Lt. Jonathan Rivera shot and killed 31-year-old Allan Feliz because he believed Feliz was about to run over another responding officer with his vehicle, Commissioner Jessica Tisch's written decision said. Tisch said Rivera, who was a sergeant at the time, made a 'fair and realistic assessment of an incredibly fast-moving, dangerous situation' in which he was 'required to make a split-second decision when he believed that his fellow officer's life was at immediate risk.' Tisch's ruling, issued late Thursday before the July 4 holiday weekend, goes against the determination of Rosemarie Maldonado, the department's deputy commissioner of trials, who found Rivera guilty in February of excessive force and recommended his termination. The shooting happened around 3 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2019, when an officer said he spotted Feliz driving in an SUV without his seatbelt on. Responding officers ran his driver's license information and found several open warrants for relatively minor infractions, including littering, spitting and disorderly conduct. Feliz then tried to drive away, prompting a struggle in which Rivera first shot him with a Taser and then with his firearm. Tisch said her decision is consistent with the 2020 conclusion of a separate inquiry by state Attorney General Letitia James' office, which declined to prosecute Rivera, saying the evidence 'strongly suggests' the shooting was justified. The police officer's union representing Rivera praised Tisch's decision as 'based on the facts and the law' and 'not because it was politically safe or expedient.' Feliz's family and supporters, however, planned to rally outside police headquarters in lower Manhattan on Tuesday evening to denounce the commissioner's decision. A family statement says they are 'furious and devastated by Commissioner Tisch's outrageous, cowardly and shameful decision" not to fire or even discipline Rivera. Rally organizers said the city's Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent police oversight agency, has until Friday to respond to Tisch's decision before it becomes final. The board didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Al Arabiya
08-07-2025
- Al Arabiya
NYPD Commissioner Won't Fire Officer Who Killed a Man During Traffic Stop
New York City's police commissioner has declined to fire a police officer who shot and killed a man during a traffic stop, rejecting a recommendation from an administrative judge. The dead man's family is protesting the decision. Lt. Jonathan Rivera shot and killed 31-year-old Allan Feliz because he believed Feliz was about to run over another responding officer with his vehicle, Commissioner Jessica Tisch's written decision said. Tisch said Rivera, who was a sergeant at the time, 'made a fair and realistic assessment of an incredibly fast-moving, dangerous situation in which he was required to make a split-second decision when he believed that his fellow officer's life was at immediate risk.' Tisch's ruling, issued late Thursday before the July 4 holiday weekend, goes against the determination of Rosemarie Maldonado, the department's deputy commissioner of trials, who found Rivera guilty in February of excessive force and recommended his termination. The shooting happened around 3 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2019, when an officer said he spotted Feliz driving in an SUV without his seatbelt on. Responding officers ran his driver's license information and found several open warrants for relatively minor infractions, including littering, spitting, and disorderly conduct. Feliz then tried to drive away, prompting a struggle in which Rivera first shot him with a Taser and then with his firearm. Tisch said her decision is consistent with the 2020 conclusion of a separate inquiry by state Attorney General Letitia James' office, which declined to prosecute Rivera, saying the evidence 'strongly suggests the shooting was justified.' The police officers' union representing Rivera praised Tisch's decision as 'based on the facts and the law and not because it was politically safe or expedient.' Feliz's family and supporters, however, planned to rally outside police headquarters in lower Manhattan on Tuesday evening to denounce the commissioner's decision. A family statement says they 'are furious and devastated by Commissioner Tisch's outrageous, cowardly and shameful decision not to fire or even discipline Rivera.' Rally organizers said the city's Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent police oversight agency, has until Friday to respond to Tisch's decision before it becomes final. The board didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- The Independent
NYPD commissioner won't fire officer who killed a man during traffic stop
New York City's police commissioner has declined to fire a police officer who shot and killed a man during a traffic stop, rejecting a recommendation from an administrative judge. The dead man's family is protesting the decision. Lt. Jonathan Rivera shot and killed 31-year-old Allan Feliz because he believed Feliz was about to run over another responding officer with his vehicle, Commissioner Jessica Tisch's written decision said. Tisch said Rivera, who was a sergeant at the time, made a 'fair and realistic assessment of an incredibly fast-moving, dangerous situation' in which he was 'required to make a split-second decision when he believed that his fellow officer's life was at immediate risk.' Tisch's ruling, issued late Thursday before the July 4 holiday weekend, goes against the determination of Rosemarie Maldonado, the department's deputy commissioner of trials, who found Rivera guilty in February of excessive force and recommended his termination. The shooting happened around 3 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2019, when an officer said he spotted Feliz driving in an SUV without his seatbelt on. Responding officers ran his driver's license information and found several open warrants for relatively minor infractions, including littering, spitting and disorderly conduct. Feliz then tried to drive away, prompting a struggle in which Rivera first shot him with a Taser and then with his firearm. Tisch said her decision is consistent with the 2020 conclusion of a separate inquiry by state Attorney General Letitia James ' office, which declined to prosecute Rivera, saying the evidence 'strongly suggests' the shooting was justified. The police officer's union representing Rivera praised Tisch's decision as 'based on the facts and the law' and 'not because it was politically safe or expedient.' Feliz's family and supporters, however, planned to rally outside police headquarters in lower Manhattan on Tuesday evening to denounce the commissioner's decision. A family statement says they are 'furious and devastated by Commissioner Tisch's outrageous, cowardly and shameful decision" not to fire or even discipline Rivera. Rally organizers said the city's Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent police oversight agency, has until Friday to respond to Tisch's decision before it becomes final. The board didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Associated Press
NYPD commissioner won't fire officer who killed a man during traffic stop
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City's police commissioner has declined to fire a police officer who shot and killed a man during a traffic stop, rejecting a recommendation from an administrative judge. The dead man's family is protesting the decision. Lt. Jonathan Rivera shot and killed 31-year-old Allan Feliz because he believed Feliz was about to run over another responding officer with his vehicle, Commissioner Jessica Tisch's written decision said. Tisch said Rivera, who was a sergeant at the time, made a 'fair and realistic assessment of an incredibly fast-moving, dangerous situation' in which he was 'required to make a split-second decision when he believed that his fellow officer's life was at immediate risk.' Tisch's ruling, issued late Thursday before the July 4 holiday weekend, goes against the determination of Rosemarie Maldonado, the department's deputy commissioner of trials, who found Rivera guilty in February of excessive force and recommended his termination. The shooting happened around 3 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2019, when an officer said he spotted Feliz driving in an SUV without his seatbelt on. Responding officers ran his driver's license information and found several open warrants for relatively minor infractions, including littering, spitting and disorderly conduct. Feliz then tried to drive away, prompting a struggle in which Rivera first shot him with a Taser and then with his firearm. Tisch said her decision is consistent with the 2020 conclusion of a separate inquiry by state Attorney General Letitia James' office, which declined to prosecute Rivera, saying the evidence 'strongly suggests' the shooting was justified. The police officer's union representing Rivera praised Tisch's decision as 'based on the facts and the law' and 'not because it was politically safe or expedient.' Feliz's family and supporters, however, planned to rally outside police headquarters in lower Manhattan on Tuesday evening to denounce the commissioner's decision. A family statement says they are 'furious and devastated by Commissioner Tisch's outrageous, cowardly and shameful decision' not to fire or even discipline Rivera. Rally organizers said the city's Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent police oversight agency, has until Friday to respond to Tisch's decision before it becomes final. The board didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
New York Post
30-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
FDNY promotes 84 at EMS ceremony, including hero dad awarded for cop rescue
The FDNY held a promotion ceremony for 84 EMS at St. John's University Monday — including a decorated veteran known for two heroic rescues. Lt. Jonathan Rivera — a father of three who recently graduated from college after dropping out of high school at 16 — was one of three promoted to captain during the promotion ceremony. Lieutenant Jonathan Rivera was promoted to Captain during an FDNY promotion ceremony at St. John's University. James Messerschmidt Rivera, 40, won two medals for heroism as a rescue medic working with Special Operations Command in 2019. In one instance, he rigged a bridge system to rescue NYPD Officer Gary Williams, who had sunk chest-deep into the mud after stepping on a rock while fishing in Rodman's Neck in 2018. 'On his lunch break, he decided to go fishing with a new rod that he had. Didn't realize that it rained the night before he started sinking in the marsh,' Rivera told the Post. A total of 84 EMS members were promoted at the ceremony. James Messerschmidt 'So between my partner and I, we built a kind of bridge system with long boards and some ropes and everything,' Rivera said. 'We were able to get him out before he completely submerged. He was in past his chest when we got there, but was able to access his cellphone.' In another heroic act in 2019, Rivera rescued a man hit by a freight train in Hunts Point 'He received multiple tourniquets and IVs, and fluids, and he actually lost his leg,' Rivera said. 'To get to him, the firefighters had to cut the fences, and then we had to use harnesses and everything to climb over the train that was already docked there to get to the patient.' After his career as a rescue medic, Rivera went on to become an instructor with the Special Operations Command and now heads the EMS competition team that competes against other rescue units around the world. The other promotions included one new deputy chief, three lieutenants promoted to captain, 17 paramedics promoted to lieutenant, and 63 EMTs who graduated from the Paramedic Basic Program.
