October 25, 2016, BRONX, N.Y.— Bronx Legal Services and Legal Services NYC condemn the killing of Deborah Danner, a 66-year-old woman shot in her home by NYPD police Sergeant Hugh Barry. We are encouraged that Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, ADA Wanda Perez-Maldonado, and ADA Jean T. Walsh will be conducting an immediate and thorough investigation and hope that they and the NYPD will hold Sergeant Barry and his superiors accountable.
Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner O’Neill’s acknowledgment of Sergeant Barry’s failure to follow NYPD protocols for attending to those living with mental illness is only the first step in ensuring that Ms. Danner’s killing is not ignored. Bronx residents should be able to call for help without fear that those calls will further victimize the most vulnerable members of our communities. The failure of public officials to protect and serve Bronx residents affected by mental illness affects the safety and well-being of all of us. #Deborah Danner #SayHerName #BlackLivesMatter