The city of Schenectady is changing how police interact with the public. The new policies come a day after the department released body camera footage showing an arrest from earlier this week.
On Monday, Yugeshwar Gaindarpersaud was arrested and charged with criminal mischief and resisting arrest. Witness video, posted right after the altercation, sparked criticism from community advocates.
The concerns and calls for change come just weeks after a different video showing Schenectady Police kneeling with protesters went viral.
“I thought, ‘this is a good step. This is a good step that we can use this as momentum,’ ” said Omar McGill, the acting chairperson of the Schenectady County Human Rights Commission.
All eyes are on the department again, but this time for longer body camera footage released by police on Wednesday.
The body camera footage shows Patrolman Brian Pommer approach Gaindarpersaud about allegedly slashing his neighbor’s tires, saying his neighbor does not want to press charges. Gaindarpersaud asks to see the video and runs into his backyard when Pommer tries to detain him. He is then brought to the ground and his head is held by Pommer’s knee.
McGill said he was at work when he saw the video for the first time.
“It really, really, infuriated me,” he said.
The department announced Thursday it is making changes. The mayor’s office says police will undergo de-escalation training; be prohibited from using their knee on someone’s head or neck; and arrests without a warrant will need to be approved by patrol supervisors.
All of Us co-founder Shawn Young has been calling for some of these changes, and questions why Monday’s incident turned violent so quickly, taking issue with Pommer repeatedly punching Gaindarpersaud while he is on the ground.
“Mr. Gaindarpersaud [was] trying to cover up, to protect himself,” Young said. “Once again, those are the interactions that we are trying to limit or diminish or just get rid of altogether in our community.”
The police department says Gaindarpersaud resisted arrest and did not listen to orders. An investigation is underway, and Pommer has been put on desk duty. The police department had no further comment Thursday on departmental changes. But now, community organizers say even more needs to be done.
“Taking a knee and then walking with groups, and then even painting ‘Black Lives Matter’ in the Street is all symbolic,” Young said. “It’s symbolic of the change that’s coming, but it’s nowhere near what we’re asking for as a community.”
The mayor’s office has indicated more information will be made available on Friday.