NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The Civilian Complaint Review Board, the oversight agency tasked with investigating police misconduct in New York City, will be allowed to proceed with a disciplinary trial against an officer who fatally shot a 37-year-old Black man in 2016 after NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell refused to intervene.
The Police Benevolent Association, the union that represents NYPD officers, called on Sewell to block the trial after Officer Wayne Isaacs’ PBA lawyers failed to convince a court to end the proceedings.
Now that Sewell has refused to intervene, the disciplinary trial can move forward, though ultimately the CCRB will only make a recommendation.
The final decision of what disciplinary action, if any, will be taken is at the discretion of Sewell.
Isaacs fatally shot 37-year-old Delrawn Small on July 4, 2016 during a traffic altercation while he was off duty.
Isaacs was using his own vehicle and was not in uniform when he shot Small, who was unarmed, three times at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Bradford Street in Brooklyn.
Small’s four-month-old baby, teenage step-daughter and girlfriend were in his car during the shooting.
Isaacs said Small assaulted him and that he fired his gun in self defense, but security camera footage of the incident contradicted this claim.
Despite the footage, Small was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges in a 2017 criminal trial.
“Isaacs murdered our brother,” Small’s family members said in a statement. “Isaacs should have already been fired, and it's outrageous that the police union continues to play games. The discipline trial of Officer Wayne Isaacs should be scheduled as soon as possible, and he should be fired for the safety of all New Yorkers.”
Small’s family filed a complaint with the CCRB in 2018.
The watchdog substantiated claims that Isaacs used excessive force when he shot Small, clearing the way for a disciplinary trial.
Small’s siblings confirmed to Gothamist that they received letters notifying them of Sewell’s decision on Thursday.
The city settled a lawsuit with Small’s girlfriend for $125,000 in 2021.
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