NYPD police officer and Throggs Neck native Richard Haste resigned from the force on Friday, March 24 following a department hearing ino the fatal shooting of Ramarley Graham.
Haste shot and killed Graham, an 18-year-old African American male, in 2012 in the 47th Precinct after chasing him from a Wakefield bodega to his East 229th Street apartment.
Supporters of Graham’s family – including his mother Constance Malcolm – have been asking for Haste’s firing and prosecution for the past five years.
Malcolm and those closest to her have been waiting since January for Judge Rosemarie Maldonado to rule on whether or not Haste used the proper police protocol in firing his weapon.
An earlier NYPD internal review had determined that the shooting was justified.
In addition, a state and federal grand jury previously exonerated Haste of any criminal action in regards to the shooting.
Maldonado ruled on March 24 that Haste did not use the correct tactics in his pursuit and shooting of Graham.
The judge recommended that Haste be dismissed from the force.
“The NYPD disciplinary trial of Richard Haste ended with the right decision: termination,” Mayor de Blasio said in a statement released on Sunday, March 26.
However, Haste instead resigned before the decision was announced, possibly protecting his NYPD pension.
During a press conference on Monday, March 27, Malcolm chastised the mayor for allowing Haste to resign instead of firing him.
They believe a resignation will make it easier for Haste to get another job as a police officer in the future.
Both sides have disagreed for years on the events surrounding Graham’s shooting.
Haste, along with Sergeant Scott Morris and police officer John McLoughlin, chased Graham from a bodega where there had been reported drug activity.
At the time, they believed Graham to be armed and dangerous, a claim Graham’s family has disputed.
After chasing Graham into his apartment, Haste yelled multiple times for Graham to show Haste his hands according to court testimony.
Instead, Graham reportedly began cursing at Haste. Also, Haste believed Graham had tried to dispose of an item in a hallway bathroom upon entering the apartment.
According to Haste’s lawyer, Stuart London, Graham did not comply with the police officer’s request and shot him.
On Tuesday, March 29, Malcolm released a statement asking de Blasio for the full release of Haste’s Civilian Complaint Review Board records.
In addition, she asked that Sergeant Morris and police officer Mcloughlin be tried for their part in the incident.
“Accountability and transparency shouldn’t be based on what’s convenient for Mayor de Blasio, it should be based on truth and justice without delays,” said Graham.
Malcolm has repeatedly said she and her family cannot feel justice has been served until the mayor’s and Commissioner O’Neill’s offices release all the details surrounding Graham’s shooting and the other police officers on trial.
Morris and Mcloughin are currently facing disciplinary action.
Haste has said through the media that he thinks every day about his actions that day.
In addition, Haste has offered to meet with Graham’s family.
However, Malcolm said she has no interest in meeting with Haste.
