NYPD Unit Under Fire as Former Official Calls for Overhaul
A former NYPD official who played a key role in shaping the Strategic Response Group (SRG), a unit tasked with responding to protests and demonstrations, is now pushing for its complete overhaul. Anthony Raganella, a retired deputy inspector, expressed his concerns about the unit's design, citing an inherent conflict between training officers to carry heavy weapons and facilitating peaceful assemblies.
Raganella's qualms date back to the SRG's inception in 2015, when he initially suggested that officers in the unit undergo extensive training at a specialized academy. However, the scope of this training was scaled back, leading Raganella to believe that the initial training was flawed, with too much emphasis on specialty weapons.
The unit's dual responsibilities have been criticized by NYPD oversight agencies and civil liberties groups, who argue that it creates an inherent conflict between responding to counterterrorism threats and facilitating peaceful protests. The Department of Investigation recommended in 2020 that the NYPD create a separate unit for responding to protests, citing competing responsibilities as a major concern.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has campaigned on disbanding the SRG, and his administration is now exploring alternatives to the unit. While some officials argue that the SRG provides essential public safety services, critics contend that its design has created optics problems, including the use of military-grade weapons and paramilitary tactics.
Raganella's concerns are echoed by civil liberties groups, who have accused SRG officers of brutality while responding to protests. The department agreed to limit the circumstances under which SRG officers could be deployed to protests in 2020, as part of a settlement with demonstrators protesting the killing of George Floyd.
As the debate over the SRG's future continues, some officials and critics are cautioning against replacing one problematic unit with another. Raganella expressed fear that if the department is not careful, it may simply rebrand the SRG with a new name and maintain its existing structure.
While supporters of the SRG argue that it provides essential services for public safety in New York, opponents contend that its design has created more problems than solutions. As the city grapples with issues of police accountability and reform, the future of the Strategic Response Group hangs in the balance.
A former NYPD official who played a key role in shaping the Strategic Response Group (SRG), a unit tasked with responding to protests and demonstrations, is now pushing for its complete overhaul. Anthony Raganella, a retired deputy inspector, expressed his concerns about the unit's design, citing an inherent conflict between training officers to carry heavy weapons and facilitating peaceful assemblies.
Raganella's qualms date back to the SRG's inception in 2015, when he initially suggested that officers in the unit undergo extensive training at a specialized academy. However, the scope of this training was scaled back, leading Raganella to believe that the initial training was flawed, with too much emphasis on specialty weapons.
The unit's dual responsibilities have been criticized by NYPD oversight agencies and civil liberties groups, who argue that it creates an inherent conflict between responding to counterterrorism threats and facilitating peaceful protests. The Department of Investigation recommended in 2020 that the NYPD create a separate unit for responding to protests, citing competing responsibilities as a major concern.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has campaigned on disbanding the SRG, and his administration is now exploring alternatives to the unit. While some officials argue that the SRG provides essential public safety services, critics contend that its design has created optics problems, including the use of military-grade weapons and paramilitary tactics.
Raganella's concerns are echoed by civil liberties groups, who have accused SRG officers of brutality while responding to protests. The department agreed to limit the circumstances under which SRG officers could be deployed to protests in 2020, as part of a settlement with demonstrators protesting the killing of George Floyd.
As the debate over the SRG's future continues, some officials and critics are cautioning against replacing one problematic unit with another. Raganella expressed fear that if the department is not careful, it may simply rebrand the SRG with a new name and maintain its existing structure.
While supporters of the SRG argue that it provides essential services for public safety in New York, opponents contend that its design has created more problems than solutions. As the city grapples with issues of police accountability and reform, the future of the Strategic Response Group hangs in the balance.
. It's like, they're trying to do a good thing, but their approach is all wrong. I mean, can't you just have a team that focuses on de-escalation and community policing? That way, everyone's safe and happy 
. But no, it's like they're stuck in this whole militarized police mindset, which only creates more problems. And now there are people calling for the unit to be completely overhauled? I think that might not be a bad idea 
. We need to find a better way to balance public safety with civil liberties. Maybe it's time to start from scratch and come up with a new approach 
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. I mean, can you imagine being an officer tasked with both keeping people safe and not scaring them into submission? It's like trying to solve a math problem while riding a unicycle on a tightrope. The SRG's design just doesn't add up. They're always talking about how they want to keep communities safe, but what they're really doing is creating an environment where people are more likely to get arrested for protesting than for committing actual crimes.
. When you're using military-grade weapons and paramilitary tactics against civilians, it's just gonna look bad, no matter how you spin it. I mean, even if they try to rebrand the SRG or come up with some new excuse for why it's necessary, at the end of the day, we all know what's going on here. It's time for a fresh start and a new approach to public safety that actually puts people first 
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. Raganella's concerns highlight the need for transparency and accountability, especially when it comes to something like law enforcement. It's also a reminder that public safety doesn't have to mean militarization or suppression of dissent 
. We need to find ways to balance security with our values of freedom and equality. The fact that Raganella is pushing for overhaul suggests that he's willing to challenge the status quo, which I think we can all learn from 
can't we find a better way to resolve conflicts without resorting to force? 
we need to think of new ways to address police accountability and reform without creating more issues down the line. maybe it's time for the city to start thinking outside the box 
The idea that one problematic unit is being replaced by another doesn't sit right with me. We need some real reform and accountability, not just a rebranding.
. and now a former official is calling for an overhaul, which i think is long overdue 
It's like, what's the point of having a unit that's supposed to deal with protests but is basically just gonna end up clashing with people instead? 
Anyone who thinks it's okay to bring tanks to a protest is seriously outta touch 
I've lived in NYC for years and I've never seen any SRG officers actually helping anyone except when they're putting up fences or pepper spray people 
It's like, we get it, protests can get wild, but do we really need a whole unit of special ops just to deal with that? 
. But on the other hand, there's a lot of criticism that it's causing more problems than solutions – like when officers use military-grade weapons or paramilitary tactics in situations where they shouldn't be 
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. I'd love to see some kind of compromise, like having separate units for counter-terrorism and protests, so each one can focus on what they do best 
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. The SRG might not be going away anytime soon, so let's at least try to find some common ground 
. We need some real change & reform ASAP, not just another Band-Aid solution like rebranding the SRG 
. My kid is always asking me about police accountability & I wish there was more clarity on this whole thing 
and now this ex-official is speakin out & i'm lovin it! 
let's hope the mayor listens & disbands ths unit 4 good