The 2019 killing of Kawaski Trawick, a Black man, by a white police officer touched off widespread outrage in New YorkKawaski Trawick, an aspiring dancer who suffered from mental health issues, was living in a supportive housing facility in the Bronx when he called 911 on the night of April 14, 2019
In a statement, Caban said the officers, Brendan Thompson and Herbert Davis, “acted within the law” in the lead-up to the 32-year-old’s death. He accused the city’s police oversight board of waiting too long to bring administrative charges against the officers, adding that they were not guilty of any criminal conduct.
After the fire department helped him inside, police arrived at the apartment and pushed open the door, finding Trawick shirtless and holding a knife. In body-worn camera footage, Trawick can be heard telling them he was cooking and asking why they are inside his home.As Trawick moved toward them, Officer Thompson fired his Taser at Trawick, then shot him four times with his handgun, even as his partner urged him not to use force.
An administrative judge overseeing the case found the review board waited too long to bring the misconduct charges — a delay the board blamed on the NYPD failing to turn over body-camera footage and other evidence in a timely fashion.