NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill announced Officer Daniel Pantaleo has been fired.

The New York City police officer who used a chokehold on Eric Garner in an encounter that ended with Garner’s death has been fired, New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill announced today.

This decision by the Commissioner was inevitable.

WABC:

New York City Police Commissioner James O’Neill announced Monday that he has fired the police officer involved in the 2014 death of Eric Garner.

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O’Neill had been deliberating whether to accept a disciplinary judge’s recommendation that Officer Daniel Pantaleo be fired for using a banned chokehold.

“None of us can take back our decisions, especially when they lead to the death of another human being,” O’Neill said, adding it was clear that Pantaleo “can no longer effectively serve as a New York City police officer.”

Related: Reaction swift on both sides after officer fired in Eric Garner’s death

Asked whether Mayor Bill de Blasio forced his hand, O’Neill said the dismissal was his choice.

“This is the decision that the police commissioner makes,” he said, calling Garner’s death an “irreversible tragedy” that “must have a consequence.”  More

Do what the officer tells you. If it’s wrong then fight it in court, not on the street. 

#BREAKING PBA STATEMENT ON @NYPDONeill‘s DECISION TO FIRE P.O. PANTALEO

“The damage is already done. The NYPD will remain rudderless and frozen, and Commissioner O’Neill will never be able to bring it back. Now it is time for every PO in this city to make their own choice.” pic.twitter.com/TAsNyXQG3J

— NYC PBA (@NYCPBA) August 19, 2019

Commissioner should resign along with the mayor ! This was a political decision not one based on facts ! The “judge “ is a political hack whose statement was designed to give cover for the Commissioner to fire the Officer ! This is so obvious, no police officer should feel safe !

— George T. Lenormand (@747pilot1) August 19, 2019

Literally two courts have said it was not an illegal choke hold – only a police disciplinary court cited it as a maneuver not sanctioned (in all of this entirety of the event) by their own policy.

— GolfFal (@JasperDontFold) August 19, 2019