NYPD Officer to Stand Trial for Fatal Shooting of Delrawn Small After a Decade

Officer Wayne Isaacs of the NYPD will face a disciplinary trial in January 2024 regarding his actions in the shooting death of Delrawn Small during a traffic incident in East New York in July 2016. This development comes after a prolonged legal battle from Small’s family to seek accountability, given that Isaacs was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges by a jury and was also cleared by the NYPD.

Victor Dempsey, Small’s brother, expressed his family’s frustration, stating they have been fighting for ten years for justice. The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) has brought charges against Isaacs, asserting he used excessive force. Patrick Hendry, president of the union representing Isaacs, criticized the CCRB for pursuing the case without new evidence, while the CCRB maintained confidence in their case against Isaacs. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch previously overturned a dismissal recommendation, stating that Isaacs’ claims of taking ‘police action’ do not negate the CCRB’s jurisdiction.