The meeting comes as the NYPD conducts a review of its Narcotics Division and its tactics, triggered by the April 14 incident in Cobble Hill.
Rev. Kevin McCall and several families of those killed by police officers in previous interactions — including Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner — entered One Police Plaza in Lower Manhattan on April 20. According to McCall, the discussion focused on the Brooklyn North Narcotics Unit, the same unit involved in the viral liquor store video.
“This is not just about having access to the police commissioner. This is about results and getting things happening,” McCall said. “We don’t need just investigation; we need suspension.”
The April 14 incident occurred amid a botched undercover operation that the NYPD Brooklyn North Narcotics Unit conducted in Cobble Hill to investigate reported community complaints. During the buy-and-bust sting, police arrested one man, identified as Joshua Ramos, for allegedly selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer.
The altercation showed two plainclothes officers pummeling and wrestling with the man in an altercation that sent bottles of alcohol flying from shelves and blood left smeared over the ground.
The video, which went viral on Instagram, showed two plainclothes officers pummeling and wrestling with a man in an altercation that sent bottles of alcohol flying from shelves and blood left smeared over the ground.Screenshot via Instagram 
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch addressed the disturbing, viral video that showed two cops mercilessly beating a man inside a Brooklyn liquor store.Photo by Dean Moses
His charges were later dismissed, and he was deemed to have done no wrongdoing. Last week, Tisch herself called the video “unsettling” and “disturbing,” adding that the two detectives involved had their guns and badges removed, as they were placed on modified duty.
Nevertheless, McCall said on Monday that he advised Tisch to have the unit disbanded, to which he said the commissioner agreed. McCall also stated that he wanted to see units like these wear body-worn cameras, something he said the commissioner also agreed to.
“She committed to disbanding the entire unit. She transferred them, but she said that she’s going to disband the entire unit as an entirety until she feels comfortable where the unit should be,” McCall said. “She said that she’s going to focus on the detective bureau and have compliance, so they will be able to make sure that they have body-worn cameras, making sure they have radios.”
But a law enforcement source clarified to amNewYork that Tisch was not referring to the entire unit. Rather, the source said she referred to a module of eight individuals, including a lieutenant and captain, who were a part of the unit. The source said that as of April 17, those eight individuals had been either transferred or placed on modified duty.
The NYPD source also reported that the two detectives caught on the now-infamous video should have been wearing body cameras at the time of the incident, which only added to Tisch’s decision to take swift disciplinary action.
Rev. Kevin McCall and mother of Eric Garner, Gwen Carr.Photo by Dean Moses
Before Monday’s meeting, Tisch ordered Chief of Department Michael LiPetri to lead a 90-day review of the Narcotics Section. This investigation will review current policies and practices within the unit and determine whether changes are needed.
Additionally, sources said, the review will take a deep dive into narcotics compliance, examining how they interface with confidential informants, how they manage funds used in buy-and-bust operations, how they manage equipment, and their tactical plans. Police say narcotics commanding officers will be brought in regularly to ensure all aspects of enforcement are managed appropriately.
It was welcome news for the civil rights leaders who met with Tisch Monday.
“That’s a step in the right direction,” Carr said following the meeting. “We need these officers to stand accountable. We need transparency.”