NYC Mayor Returns From Italy To A Tempest Caused By Death Of Black Suspect In Police Custody
ROME (AP) — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his family are wrapping up a whirlwind vacation in his ancestral homeland of Italy, complete with cheering crowds, paparazzi and, yes, even proof Italians do eat pizza with a knife and fork.
But the city he is returning to Sunday is still roiled by the death of a suspect in police custody after he was put in an apparent chokehold. The videotaped scuffle threatens to reignite distrust of the New York Police Department in minority communities, a long-standing problem that de Blasio has vowed to improve.
De Blasio, who has monitored the situation from Europe, now faces, according to one ally, "a defining moment," and his response will be closely watched by minority groups that were a stronghold of support and a police department adjusting to the post-stop-and-frisk era.
Upon his return, the mayor will meet with his senior staff to be updated on the investigation and is expected to address it publicly early next week.
"It's a critical time," said Jamie Chandler, a political science professor at Hunter College. "He has put a lot of emphasis on improving police and community relations and that won't happen overnight. How he handles this will be important."
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http://www.newser.com/article/53bfadd698214731a877e2acf22551c5/nyc-mayor-returns-from-italy-to-a-tempest-caused-by-death-of-black-suspect-in-police-custody.html
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