NYPD sued by Attorney General for years of racial abuse and use of excessive force.

In what’s been called a “landmark lawsuit,” The New York Times has reported that New York state Attorney General Letitia James is suing the city of New York, the mayor and the NYPD’s leaders, alleging that officers for years have committed civil rights abuses against the city’s citizens, including at protests last summer over the death of George Floyd. She is also seeking the appointment of a federal monitor to oversee NYPD’s policing tactics in the future.

The suit, which was filed in the Southern District of New York, names Mayor Bill de Blasio, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea and Chief of Department Terence Monahan as defendants. It also details years of excessive force and false arrests conducted on their behalf. Gov. Andrew Cuomo tasked James with investigating the claims, including the many that arose over the summer protests.

In a press conference announcing the suit, James said her office found “an egregious abuse of police power, rampant excessive use of force and leadership unable and unwilling to stop it.” These problems were especially prevalent last summer, she added. “As the demonstrations continued, the very thing being protested — aggressive actions of law enforcement — was on public display.”