ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York’s governor has issued an executive order that puts the office of the state attorney general in charge of investigating killings by police.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo (KWOH’-moh) signed the order Wednesday as relatives of New Yorkers slain by law enforcement looked on. They included Gwen Carr, whose son Eric Garner died last year in police custody.
The action by the Democratic governor means a special prosecutor will review and potentially prosecute cases of civilians killed by police in suspicious circumstances.
It comes after officers weren’t criminally charged last year in deadly encounters with unarmed men in New York and elsewhere. Critics have questioned whether local prosecutors can properly pursue such cases because of their ties to police.
Cuomo says action is needed to restore public confidence in law enforcement.
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