NYPD Fires Cop Who Choked the Life Out of Eric Garner

Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The New York Police Department has fired Officer Daniel Pantaleo, 5 Years after he killed 43-year-old Eric Garner while making an arrest for selling bootleg cigarettes on the street. The job termination comes a month after federal prosecutors announced no charges would be filed against Pantaleo in Garner's murder.

The NYPD took action after an administrative judge recommended he be terminated earlier this month. In 2014 a grand jury declined to indict Pantaleo for murder. His attorney claimed he was only doing his job when he spotted Garner selling single cigarettes on the street, and choked the life out of him while he pleaded for mercy.

Garner's death sparked riots in NYC and peaceful rallies all over the country. Black NBA players such as LeBron James, Kevin Garnett and Derrick Rose wore t-shirts printed with Garner's dying declaration: "I can't breathe" in support of Garner's family.

In 2017 a Staten Island judge approved nearly $4 million in payments to Garner's family from a $5.9 million wrongful death settlement with the city.

Months later, Garner's eldest daughter, Erica Garner, died from an apparent heart attack. Erica became an activist for police reform after her father's death.

  • KcoolMuziq
  • Wreckognize Game

    Are the killer cops protected from jail because of their union but not protected from being fired?

  • Li-Wright

    The cop is going to sue the Commissioner. They will reach a settlement and cop will get a pension payout.

  • Li-Wright

    Yes. The union is very strong. Especially here in Chicago. They can do a "sickout" and nobody show up for work.

  • MJF

    5 years, it took 5 years for this to happen. Let that sink in.

  • WhoKnew

    About damned time almost 6 years later. SMDH.

    Also in WTF news the 2 white cops that walked a black man down a street with a rope around his neck in Texas will not be fired or disciplined. WTF?

  • Kimberly King

    RIP to Eric and his daughter. Unfortunately, the bum ass cop who killed him will get hired by another police department. Sometimes I wish these niggas in the street would stop killing each other, boss up and go murk people like this loser cop, George Zimmerman, etc.

  • Wreckognize Game

    Thank you for responding. I was just wondering why they can be fired after being cleared of wrongdoing after going to trial.

  • WhoKnew

    "I was just wondering why they can be fired after being cleared of wrongdoing after going to trial."
    _______________________________________

    If I'm not mistaken it was an all white jury.

  • http://batman-news.com Roderick2011

    "selling bootleg cigarettes."
    The cigarettes weren't bootlegs. They were loosies or individual cigarettes.

  • http://batman-news.com Roderick2011

    The cop who choked out Eric Gardner never went to trial thanks to that crooked DA who's now a congressman.

  • Queen B

    They awarded the family 4 million for a wrong death but the jury didn’t find him guilty ? either he’s guilty or he’s not but it definitely can’t be both

  • Indies beauty

    I watched the press conference live and im not satisfied. He pulled a "there were fine people on both sides" b.s by esteeming the cop.

  • NYTimes#1Bestseller

    Really? That's it? This maniac should be OFF THE STREETS! PERIOD! Lock his ass up and throw away the key!

  • Bree

    Why the hell did this take so long!? Eric Garner was murdered point blank! The system is a joke to me. Officer Pantaleo is probably better off on the streets! God doesn't sleep!!

    Recompense!!

  • Lame Ass LA

    You will never see that becuz there is an arrangement between the gangs and law enforcement...which is why u hardly ever hear of cops killing gangbangers and leaders. The illicit drug industry is a $1.2 trillion a year industry...thats $100 billion per month...if u think any drug kingpin can surreptitiously rake in hundreds of millions without the govt knowing, well then ive got a bridge to sell u. Black gangs and even the Nation of Islam could DESTROY a police department if they really wanted to

  • Chaseboogie The Prince

    Now if we can just get his azz put in jail for murder....

  • Nathan Hastings

    They really didn't want to fire him but the department was tired of
    receiving the bad PR...

  • Bree

    I have always wondered about the Nation of Islam. Seems like a bunch of wickedness!

  • Bree

    Same thing I said. This took too long and for a measly $4 mil. The family deserved better.

  • Bree

    Exactly!!

  • Wreckognize Game

    The not guilty seems to be a given. I was asking about the "You're Fired" part.

  • Shawty

    About damn time

  • Li-Wright

    I want to clarify that the cop will probably file a lawsuit (because initially the Commissioner said he was innocent, but because of political pressure agreed to fire him) against the City; win some type of settlement. He was stripped of his pension. That's a no-no. You don't strip somebody of their pension, so that's why he'll file a lawsuit. probably settle for the pension.

  • Li-Wright

    Because there is no law against embarassing somebody. They didn't do anything outside of their legal right, and the policy of the police department.
    If you want to change the police, you have to change the union agreements and the policies of the PD.

  • Naturally Brown

    1 down umpteen more to go

  • Li-Wright

    Did the family spend the money? Probably yes, and there's no more money to go after :) The attorney took about 1/3 of the money. That leaves $3Million. Who knows who got what and where the money went....maybe the family bought a house outside of NYC? Does anybody know?

  • http://batman-news.com Roderick2011

    LOL

  • Li-Wright

    I would like to think that the NOI got its money the right way. By buying land and real estate.

  • http://batman-news.com Roderick2011

    Nah, he's probably set for life from a GoFundMe set up by his union. He won't need to ever work again.

  • Li-Wright

    It won't happen.

  • the guest

    The grounds for firing aren't grounds for charges? How is that?

  • PLEASEDontTellMe

    the justice system gave us no cake with our ice cream, just frost bitten ice cream from NYPD...RIP Mr. Garner. I wish for the days when the death of a black person calls for the same out cry as the death of Susan's Labrador

  • Parent

    He killed this man over damn cigarettes. He should have been fired a long time ago.

    2 white female officers pulled over my man the other night. They said it was because of his tints but I know it was because he was driving while black. So they ask him to roll down all his windows, ask for his license and registration. He told them its in the glove compartment and that he had to retrieve it. They allow him. So he's being quiet, not saying a word. Then the heffa got the nerve to ask him, "are you okay". He doesn't answer cus honestly why would he be okay if he is constantly getting pulled over by these thugs in uniform. Then she says it again, only now its' loud and aggressive. Mind you I'm on the phone the entire time listening. I'm like who the eff does this chick think she is talking to this grown man like that. This man just came from coaching a basketball game, something he does to take young men off the street. Boy I was pissed. I damn near had a panic attack cus then they told him turn off the car and get out of the car. They ended up letting him leave with no ticket. I guess they wanted to see if they could get a collar.

    I really despise cops like this. hate to say but i hate them.

  • Wreckognize Game

    Oh wow. Yes, he will sue. The cop here sued to get his job back. He was going to be reinstated so he could get backpay however they were scared of public outcry. They settled on him having a resignation to be able to work elsewhere.

  • Gloria

    What a slap in the face to the family to even still have this man on payroll half a decade later.

  • Vegas1989

    I'm sorry to hear this. I once followed by an undercover cop car. It was daylight and my sunroof was opened and I tried to make it to the police station but got held up by this car so I pulled all the way up on the sidewalk....LOL...And they got out there car with their hands on their weapon and peeped over and lucky for me I knew the guy who pulled me over. And then two regular cops pulled over because of they wanted to know what was going on. They were old Army buddies and church members. But the next morning at work some dumb @$$ spread a rumor that I got pulled over by Target with cocaine in the back of my trunk.....And I when who said it...It was washing powder.....If I had a kilo or two my black @$$ would have been in jailed and not work.....I threaten the person who started the rumor right in front of their stupidvisor...And told him that he was going to be toothless if he ever mention my name out of his mouth,.

  • Vegas1989

    My thing is they are MAKING PAYMENTS....SMH....It should be a upfront PAYMENT>>>>>>>

  • Dontgetdraggedputa??

    I heard they tried to dissuade the commissioner from firing old dude but he wasnt having it.

    This isnt much justice but its better than nothing.

    Also this-is why kaep started kneeling. So no WE’RE NOT PAST SHEIT!!!!

  • Dontgetdraggedputa??

    A cop once tried to find anything at all to take me in cause i wouldnt speak to him. I handed my l and r i got out the car i stood where he told me to but i didnt say boo to him he was so frustrated he had to let me go. They are pitiful people with a god complex. Im glad your bae was fine. Dumb Bishes

  • Madashelle

    I feel your pain. I really do. My husband got pulled over too for his tiny. In my state, Maryland, the kind of tint that he has is legal. But he had to go one state over for something, and this red-nosed pig in Virginia decided to pull him over. Mind you , he was less than 10 minutes from the Maryland state line.

  • http://Www.Instagram.com/crazychiques CrazyChiques_KBoogie

    Real simple..... He got off from a true murder cafe.... But to calm all ur cousins down, (mine too) was to at least make it look like he had repercussions for his action, but shiiiid, I would take termination as opposed to jail any day,..... He will be transferred... That's how that story is written..... ?

  • EyeEmJai

    Exactly.

  • Bree

    I have never understood why cops pull you over for tint!? I seriously doubt if people knew they'd be targeted for tinted windows, they wouldn't have them put in their cars. I wish cops would just let folk be until they actually commit a crime. You pulling over somebody for tinted window, but Jim Bo is down the street slanging dope on the corner. These suckas need to move around!

  • Bree

    I'm not talking about land and real estate. That's understandable. Something about them rub me the wrong way. My apologies, this just may be a personal issue for me. The members I have encountered have always been wicked. Doesn't seem like we serve the same God. Sometimes people serve mammon.

  • Renee Bee

    Praise the Lord!!!
    Rest In Heaven, Mr. Garner.
    It took them bastids FIVE years!

  • Bree

    I have no clue. $3 mil is chump change for what happened to Eric Garner. I can only hope this gave the family peace!

  • Coffee1st

    Speaking of Neanderthals...here ya go
    Look at these faces. Let me know if you see a theme here.
    https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/18/us/three-potential-attacks-foiled/index.html

  • Faithz

    Cosigns You!!

  • Faithz

    Yes indeed!

  • Faithz

    Yes Lord!!!!

  • Faithz

    His name sound like he's something Other than White.

  • Karen Brady

    Fukking with his mental the same way that pig fukked with Sandra Bland...asking her the same thing. I HATE that.

  • Sushi

    He is just going to go to another department and get a job, case closed.... I hate to have a negative connotation of the police force because my mom is a sheriff, but they make my A** itch...….

  • https://nylapoprush.com/home twitch.tv/NylaPop

    You're so damn annoying

  • KcoolMuziq

    Good U want a cookie?

  • Pamela

    The NYPD judge is the one that recommended he get fired. He's pretty much been on "vacation" while still drawing a salary since this incident.

  • FakeNeanderthal Jesus

    Nation of Islam, stop dissing them!

  • FakeNeanderthal Jesus

    Nothing wrong with the Nation of Islam but its something wrong with black people loving fake white jesus.

  • Bree

    You might be right. I never looked into it

  • FakeNeanderthal Jesus

    just stop it.i bet you're a white jesus loving christian

  • Bree

    I don't know fake white Jesus. The Messiah was black.

  • Bree

    I'm not replying to you again until you graduate language arts!

  • http://batman-news.com Roderick2011

    That's what pisses me off the most.
    If you're a cop and want a vacay just shoot someone.
    This country is effed up.

  • FakeNeanderthal Jesus

    sorry you have been lied to .

  • FakeNeanderthal Jesus

    looool,"white jesus loving christian"

  • FakeNeanderthal Jesus

    There'a no J in the Hebrew language .Jesus was made up by the cave Neanderthal Roman catholic church.

    THE MOST HIGH YHWH QUOTED:Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

    Hosea 4:6
    6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:
    because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee,
    that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

    Black people are dying because lack of knowledge.Some of you don't know who your enemy is.

  • Look@m3

    You should throw rotten eggs in his yard.

  • Trace da Ace

    4 years later....he gets fired??? What the hell???? This should have BEEN happened!!! This is not even a small piece of justice that this family is due for this horrible situation!! Charges should have been brought against this cop and he should have been in jail!!!! PERIOD!

  • IyanlaVanzantoftheInterWebs
  • sunni_daze

    I'm glad that this happened, but I want to know why it took so long? Does it have anything to do with Blasio running for President? The timing is rather fishy. Also can the family sue him in civil court since he is no longer protected by the Union?

  • Coco

    Other police stations can’t wait to hire him. He’ll be so well respected by his fellow racist murderers.

  • dinedaaka

    He's American of Italian descent.

  • ?Patty Kakes?

    Yep. That is exactly what's going to happen. it's been done time and time again

  • currvalicious

    That's to start some shyt. "Are you ok"?? What was he supposed to say.

  • currvalicious

    Must be from Staten Island.

  • Jethro

    Serves the murderous thug right.

  • Karen Brady

    Yes it has alot to do with it and he's not getting elected.

  • Karen Brady

    Exactly. Basically poking him, egging him on.

  • currvalicious

    Those female cops can be the worse.

  • currvalicious

    Anthony Baez a victim of police brutality. He was placed in a fatal chokehold some 20+ yrs ago. This happened in the Bronx. I forgot the cop's name, but he actually served time in jail. RIP to both Anthony Baez & Eric Garner. Blessings to the Garner & Baez families. RIP to the fearless Erica Garner, who took on the fight for justice on behalf of her father.

  • Jussjess25

    Amen!

  • Jussjess25

    The man should have gone to prison but Ill settle for this. Although, I’m sure hell receive his full pension, at-least this monster wont be in uniform. Rip Garner.

  • Faithz

    Thank You.

  • Faithz

    His name had me wondering.

  • sunni_daze

    Like I thought.

  • sunni_daze

    Like I thought.