New York City's Attorney General Office has declined to pursue criminal charges against two NYPD officers involved in the fatal shooting of 19-year-old Win Rozario, who was experiencing a mental health crisis. The decision not to indict Officers Matthew Cianfrocco and Salvatore Alongi comes at a time when Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's administration is pushing for reforms on emergency mental health calls.
According to the Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation report, prosecutors would struggle to disprove that the officers were justified in using deadly force against Rozario. The report states that the officers ordered him to drop his scissors, fired Tasers at him without success, and only shot him when he came close to one of them while holding the blades.
Rozario's family has condemned the decision, calling it "cowardly" and claiming that it feels like they are reliving the tragedy all over again. They argue that the NYPD should not be engaging with people experiencing mental health episodes. However, the union representing Cianfrocco and Alongi disputes this assessment, saying that the Civilian Complaint Review Board's decision to approve disciplinary charges against them is unfounded.
The Attorney General's report also includes several recommendations for improving responses to mental health calls in New York City. These include expanding a pilot program called B-HEARD, which allows social workers and emergency medical technicians to respond to 911 calls, and allowing B-HEARD personnel to work alongside police officers in some instances.
Mayor-elect Mamdani's plan to overhaul the city's response to mental health calls includes implementing these reforms. The decision not to pursue criminal charges against Cianfrocco and Alongi has sparked debate about the NYPD's handling of emergency mental health calls, with many calling for greater accountability and more effective support services for those in crisis.
According to the Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation report, prosecutors would struggle to disprove that the officers were justified in using deadly force against Rozario. The report states that the officers ordered him to drop his scissors, fired Tasers at him without success, and only shot him when he came close to one of them while holding the blades.
Rozario's family has condemned the decision, calling it "cowardly" and claiming that it feels like they are reliving the tragedy all over again. They argue that the NYPD should not be engaging with people experiencing mental health episodes. However, the union representing Cianfrocco and Alongi disputes this assessment, saying that the Civilian Complaint Review Board's decision to approve disciplinary charges against them is unfounded.
The Attorney General's report also includes several recommendations for improving responses to mental health calls in New York City. These include expanding a pilot program called B-HEARD, which allows social workers and emergency medical technicians to respond to 911 calls, and allowing B-HEARD personnel to work alongside police officers in some instances.
Mayor-elect Mamdani's plan to overhaul the city's response to mental health calls includes implementing these reforms. The decision not to pursue criminal charges against Cianfrocco and Alongi has sparked debate about the NYPD's handling of emergency mental health calls, with many calling for greater accountability and more effective support services for those in crisis.
this is so sad - 19 years old shouldn't have to lose their life over a mental health crisis 
can you imagine if it was your child? 
i think the whole system needs to be relooked at, especially with the NYPD involved 
instead of relying on police officers, we need more trained professionals who know how to handle these situations 
and what's with the union saying it's unfounded? didn't they see the footage or the report from the AG's office? 
i'm all for holding cops accountable, but this feels like a cop-out 
mayor-elect Mamdani is on the right track though 
we need to start prioritizing people over police 
I'm really sad to hear that the 2 cops who shot Win Rozario are not going to face charges... it just feels like justice isn't being served 
The fact that they had to use deadly force is already a last resort, so can't we try to find other ways to help people in crisis? 
I mean, I know cops have a tough job, but this just feels like too many lives lost 
. I can only imagine how devastating it must be to have their loved one taken from them under such circumstances. The fact that the AG's office isn't pursuing charges feels like a huge setback for seeking justice and accountability 
. I hope Rozario's family finds some peace of mind knowing that they're not alone in this fight 
. We need to keep pushing for better support services and policing practices that prioritize de-escalation over enforcement 
.
It feels like we're just treating people with mental health issues like they're a danger to themselves and others, rather than actually trying to help them 
. And now we're supposed to trust that these reforms will actually make a difference? 
I'm not convinced, I think we need to see some real change before I can start feeling hopeful 
. And what about all the people out there who are struggling with mental health issues and just need someone to talk to? Do we really want them interacting with trained police officers instead of professionals like social workers and EMTs? 
. I'm not sure if the NYPD officers are in the wrong or not, but we do need some serious reforms in place 
.
. We need more training for our emergency responders on how to handle these situations, especially when it comes to de-escalation techniques 
.
. I hope Mayor-elect Mamdani's administration can make some real changes happen soon 
. We need to create a system where people feel safe and supported, not just policed 
We should also be having tough conversations about police accountability and the importance of de-escalation techniques in these situations. Let's focus on building a system that supports both our safety and the well-being of those who need help most 
. So instead of all this drama and back-and-forth between the family and the union, maybe we can focus on making sure our emergency services are equipped to deal with these situations in a more compassionate way 
.
. And now his fam is all bent outta shape thinkin' the cops are gettin' off scot-free 
. Don't get me wrong, I feel for 'em, but come on...the report says they did their job according to protocol. Still, it's weird that the AG Office doesn't wanna touch this one...guess we'll just have to wait and see how this whole thing plays out in the city's reform plans 
The fact that they get to say "he came close" is just sickening. Like, how close was he supposed to come before it's okay to pull the trigger? 
This whole thing is just another example of the system failing people in need. I mean, what kind of city lets its cops walk free after killing someone? 
still can't believe what happened to Win Rozario, a young guy just trying to get help when things went super wrong 
. the fact that these cops didn't have to answer for their actions is already pretty messed up 
We need to focus on de-escalation techniques and supporting people in crisis, not just relying on force.
