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Friday, December 2, 2022
Vol. 71, No. 48
GUIDE TO THE HOLIDAYS
EWSD EXCELS IN COUNTY NICOLELLO EYES PROFICIENCY RANKINGS REDISTRICTING
PAGES 25-32
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Police hit with 491 complaints Calls for Nassau to show misconduct BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z A total of 491 complaints were filed against the Nassau County Police Department in 2021, the highest number since 507 were reported in 2016, according to statistics outlined in the department’s annual police reform report. The total included 203 improper procedure complaints, 148 for unprofessional conduct, 28 for excessive force, 17 for neglect of duty, 15 for unlawful conduct, 9 for racial/ethnic bias and 9 for false arrest. In 2017, a total of 434 complaints were reported, followed by 438 in 2018, 456 in 2019 and 291 as of October 2020. Statistics did not show how many complaints were filed from November-December 2020. Of the 491 complaints, a total of 66 were ‘founded’ by Nassau police, the statistics showed. From 2016 to 2021, 30 people won court judgments against the Nassau County Police Departments for 41 allegations of false arrest and excessive force, according to an article in the Gothamist, an online publication. For 38 of the allegations, the Nassau County Attorney’s Office funded case settlements while prohibiting the accuser to publicly speak on the allegations, the story said. No cases of false arrest and excessive force were ‘founded’ from 20162021. Continued on Page 46
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Eric Gerwatowski of New Hyde Park (left) is seen in a YouTube video from the Capitol Building riots on Jan. 6, 2021.
Herricks grad’s Jan. 6 guilty plea Eric Gerwatowski, 32, led group of rioters into Capitol during insurrection BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y A New Hyde Park man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony charge for leading a group of rioters inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Eric Gerwatowski, 32, was at the
front of a crowd outside the upper House doors when he pulled one of them open after Capitol Police previously closed them to prevent rioters from entering, according to federal prosecutors. After opening the doors, Gerwatowski turned to the crowd behind
him and shouted “Let’s go!” as he began to direct rioters inside the building. Gerwatowski pleaded guilty to interfering with law enforcement during a civil disorder. He faces a maximum of five years in prison when he is sentenced in early March.
While inside the Capitol, Gerwatowski was livestreamed by another rioter that showed him saying “They’re raping kids and they’re shooting kids” before leaving after being inside for about three minutes, officials said. Continued on Page 46
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