The viral video of a man tased, kicked, and cursed at during an arrest at the Peekskill Riverfront Green Park last week is being viewed not only as a test of public trust in the police force but a test for new leadership in the police department.

A Peekskill City Police Department officer, whose name has not been released, was placed on paid administrative leave after a video of 42-year-old Damar Fields’ arrest that was posted on social media Dec. 3 sparked community outrage. The video was described as “troubling” by the City of Peekskill in a press release the following day.

The incident was addressed at Monday night’s (Dec. 8) Common Council meeting by then-Lt. Adam Renwick, just minutes before he was appointed to the position of Chief of Police unanimously, effective Tuesday, Dec. 9. He replaces 25-year veteran of the force Leo Dylewski, who announced his retirement on Nov. 17.

“I recognize the video has raised serious concerns, and those concerns are not unwarranted,” Chief Renwick said. “I want to begin by acknowledging the impact an event like this has on our community trust and sense of safety.”

Renwick said that after reviewing the initial body camera footage, he made the decision to formally refer the incident to the Westchester County District Attorney’s office for an independent investigation.

“I did this because the video circulating on social media raised legitimate questions about the use of force, and it was essential that all aspects of the incident be investigated fully and impartially,” Renwick said. “Our department is fully cooperating with that review and has provided all available evidence, including body-worn camera footage, reports, and witness statements.”

Nine residents spoke about the incident, including former teacher Jan Melillo, who described the incident as eroding public trust in police and showed an officer “not attempting” to deescalate a situation.

“At one point in my career, I worked with severely emotionally-challenged adolescent children,” Melillo said. “I have been spat on, scratched, cursed at, hit, and drop-kicked by a young man twice my size wearing construction boots. You know what I never did in response to these incidents? Punch, kick, curse at, tase, or betray the trust that these children had in me.”

Heather Bishop urged the council to take concerns seriously and said she grew up with Fields in Croton and periodically sees him in Peekskill.

“He is always polite, friendly and respectful,” Bishop said. “Many of us know him from around town. I recognize that people have bad days. I’ve had them. We’ve all had them. Watching the video and seeing photos of Damar’s face, it truly breaks my heart. And we trust you to do the right thing in this situation. Peekskill deserves leadership and policing capable of critical thinking, ethical judgment, and respect for its constituents.”

Due to the matter being subject to an active investigation, Renwick said there are limits to what he can discuss publicly, but that he will share clear and accurate information whenever possible without compromising the investigative process. He added that he was committed to a complete and thorough review of all evidence in the case.

Also at the Dec. 8 Council meeting, five members of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) were reappointed and will be reviewing the incident. They are Dennis Adams, Jay Buckiewicz, Antonio Knott, Lisa McClain and Harriet Ray.

“I have served as the city’s police internal affairs attendant for the last two years and played a key role in establishing the [CCRB],” Renwick said. “My track record demonstrates that I will do my job professionally, impartially and will dispense discipline appropriately. I have no hesitation holding officers accountable for their actions and ensuring that corrective measures and training are applied when necessary.”

In a statement from Priscilla Augustin, president of the Peekskill chapter of the NAACP, the organization condemned what it described as a misuse of power by the police officers directly involved in the incident.

“After reviewing the video that was posted, it is clear that the officers used excessive force, employed derogatory language, and engaged in racial name-calling toward the man in their custody,” Augustin said. “This is unacceptable. We applaud the decision to suspend the officer; however, the suspension should be without pay pending the outcome of the investigation.”

Prior to the Monday night meeting, the Peekskill Police Benevolent Association (PBA) released a statement scorning public reaction to the cellphone footage, which did not capture the entire incident. The statement  said a Peekskill patrol officer was directed by concerned citizens to the Riverfront Green Park due to the “frightening behavior” of a man by the gazebo.

“Once located, the officer observed the male fully exposed with his pants pulled down,” said PBA Attorney Andrew Quinn. “The male refused to follow the officer’s legal commands to comply and aggressively approached him making irrational statements. It was clear to the officer that the male, who was apparently high on narcotics and was known to the officer due to his frequent problematic behavior, was a threat both to himself and the parkgoers.”

The PBA said that the man, unnamed in its release, resisted “violently” and “continued to act irrationally” and that the officer used only the force necessary to effect the arrest. It said the man was fully restrained only after several other officers arrived and assisted in the arrest.

“Once again, and predictably, individuals who are ignorant to the totality of facts surrounding this arrest have accused our police officer of misconduct,” Quinn said. “One of the most challenging tasks a police officer faces is placing a violent, resisting individual under arrest. It may be ‘hard to watch,’ but it takes force to overcome violence and bravery to confront danger.”

(Fields is not in custody and police have not said what charges Fields may be facing.  A Peekskill city court clerk reportedly said she had still not received any charging documents from the police.)

The PBA’s statement saw pushback at the Council session from several speakers, including Renwick, who said he strongly disagreed with any suggestion that conclusions can be reached before the investigation is complete. City of Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie also criticized the PBA’s statement, declaring that “we were all appalled” and the city was not taking the incident lightly.

“I felt that what the PBA put out there just dug not only a hole between the community and the council but the community and the police department,” McKenzie said. “And we have worked really hard in the city to make sure that we are a community that respects each other, that our police department works with the city, and that they respect our community.”

Resident Evan Rosen took issue with the unnamed officer being placed on paid administrative leave and said that the incident constituted a “crisis of public trust” in combination with other breaches of public trust. Those include a former officer being sentenced in 2022 to seven years for sexually abusing woman while on duty and another former officer swiping a woman’s boot from the station locker room in February to “satisfy a sexual addiction” according to internal police affairs records and court records.

Peekskill resident Earl John Powell took issue with a statement from the mayor advocating to wait until all the facts are in. “I don’t know anywhere where policies and procedures make it okay to be kicked,” Powell said. “To be kicked like a rabid dog, that is so dehumanizing.”

Mayor McKenzie said the city wanted to make sure all the I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed to ensure there is accountability and asked the public to be patient.

“We have to hang in there together and respect our community and one another, but we have tough times ahead of us,” McKenzie said. “I’m sure that people are feeling very emotional, as they should, and people are outraged, as they should [be], but I assure [you] that we are working to make sure that there’s accountability and that there is training and that our officers are respecting and taking care of our citizens and our citizens are respecting our officers.”

Darrell Davis, a community advocate who is organizing a rally scheduled to take place at Riverfront Green Park on Saturday, Dec. 13, at 1 p.m., told the Peekskill Herald that speakers there will include those whose families have had bad experiences with law enforcement.

“Our main concern with [Damar] right now is his mental health,” Davis said in a phone call. “The damage of being tased four or five times, brutalized, is significant.”