Bratton Expresses Outrage Over City's $5,000 Settlement With Machete-Wielding Man Shot By Police
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Police Commissioner Bill Bratton is "outraged" that the city settled a lawsuit brought by a man who was shot by an officer after he threatened police with a machete.
Ruhim Ullah, of Brooklyn, filed a $3 million lawsuit against police even after he pleaded guilty to menacing officers during the 2010 confrontation.
Ullah was shot once in the leg by an officer trying to stop him from attacking police with the 18-inch blade. The defendant's lawyer, Scott Cerbin, said Ullah dropped the machete before he was shot, but admitted he thought the shooting was justified, the New York Post reported.
Bratton Expresses Outrage Over City's $5,000 Settlement With Machete-Wielding Man Shot By Police
The city Law Department agreed to pay $5,000 to settle the case, saying it was in the city's best interest.
Bratton said he was outraged when he learned about the settlement in the front-page Post story.
"If the story in the Post is accurate, our officers did absolutely nothing wrong," Bratton said Thursday during a speech to the Police Foundation. "It's outrageous that, if in fact the story, as written, is accurate, that the city Law Department is continuing to not support the men and women of this department as they go about their duties and do those duties appropriately."
Bratton said he's worried settling cases could become the norm and tarnish officers who have done nothing wrong, WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported.
"We have been in discussions with the city attorney's office about this issue. It's a longstanding issue," Bratton said. "I can remember going back to my time in '94, same issue. I believe there's a willingness to more aggressively defend these cases, and I certainly hope that's the case because our cops deserve better, they really do."
The police commissioner is expected to discuss the issue with Mayor Bill de Blasio during a meeting Thursday.
"It's outrageous, our cops work very hard trying to keep this city safe, and if they're not going to be backed up by the city law office, we need to do something about that."
The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association blasted the payout. Spokesman Al O'Leary accused the city of settling because it was cheaper than defending it in court.
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