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Contact: Dina Paul Parks 
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FIVE YEARS LATER: Haitian Coalition reflects on anniversary of Louima torture incident 

NEW YORK, August 9, 2002 - Five years ago today, Haitian immigrant Abner Louima was brutally beaten and sodomized by members of the New York City Police Department. While one ex-officer, Justin Volpe, is serving a 30-year sentence for his part in the heinous attack, the convictions of the officers involved in the case were overturned on appeal in late February, paving the way for the continuation of an already protracted struggle for justice.

“We all would have liked to have marked this anniversary with the satisfaction of knowing that justice has been done and that this is behind us,” stated Dina Paul Parks, NCHR’s Executive Director. “That is not the case, however. We will remain vigilant to ensure that the justice system does its job.”

While this case continues, indeed with yet another trial for Charles Schwarz set to begin September 24th, the past five years have witnessed some progress in the relationship between the NYPD and the Haitian community. One of the most unmistakable signs of that progress was a January 2002 meeting held between community leaders, including NCHR, and the Brooklyn South precinct after the tragic police shooting of Georgy Louisgene. Though the outcome of this meeting did not result in agreement over the shooting, the fact that the NYPD initiated the contact and that communication actually took place is an achievement in and of itself. There is a long way to go, however.

NCHR believes strongly that regular communication between the community and NYPD is key to any endeavor to prevent future instances of police misconduct. In our efforts to foster such interactions and build trust since the Louima incident, we have worked with the Haitian community - including with Haitian civil and religious leaders and Haitian community-based service providers and their constituents - and the NYPD to address directly the root causes and heart of the tension, a cultural gap that can create high levels of suspicion. 

“We are beginning to see the fruits of these labors,” added Ms. Paul Parks. “But we cannot become complacent. NCHR will continue its advocacy to ensure that police officers who abuse their authority are held accountable and to facilitate the development of a mutually respectful relationship between the Haitian community and the NYPD.”