The New York Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) strongly condemns the unlawful, abusive and unprofessional conduct of Lieutenant Chance and Officer Chen of the 67th Precinct in Brooklyn who targetsed President of CGID, Mr. Rickford Burke, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, apparently because of the vehicle he was driving. We further denounce their blatant lies to cover up their unlawful, unethical and unprofessional conduct.
Mr. Burke was parked on Utica Avenue, Brooklyn. As he was exiting his vehicle to purchase food at a restaurant in the vicinity of Utica and Snyder Avenues, two officers pulled up and directed him and a friend to get back in the vehicle and, further, not to exit.
The two officers then issued Mr. Burke with a moving violation for tints, although he was not driving at the time, then lied that they flashed their lights and then pulled him over. This is unlawful and dangerous. These are dirty cops who put members of our community in danger. They should not be on our streets.
CGID believes in adherence to the rule of law, and respects the service of every Police officer who works hard to keep our City and citizens safe. However, we strongly believe that dirty cops must be exposed, investigated and disciplined when the evidence shows that they abused their position, violating citizens’ rights or the law.
We must be aware and on alert for dirty cops like these in our community. New York City has many immigrant communities. Our elected officials, community leaders, not for profit and other organizations are working hard to protect citizens, keep immigrant families together and provide as much information as possible for members of our community to be aware of their rights and know how to conduct themselves when interacting with law enforcement in this extant environment in which immigrants are vulnerable.
It is therefore extremely concerning that Police officers are allegedly in the streets of Brooklyn targeting and harassing people, lying and fabricating allegations on tickets (to perhaps meet quotas), thereby potentially forcing our young people and others into the criminal justice system and in harms way. This is an injustice. It is dangerous and unacceptable. It must be addressed urgently!
CGID calls on all elected officials, Caribbean American Community leaders, and others in Brooklyn, and New York City, generally to immediately address this issue with NYPD Brooklyn South, Precinct Commanders, Mayor Eric Adams and Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Moreover, we request that our Members of Congress, New York State Attorney General Letitia James, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, etc, address this matter with the leadership of NYPD, or it will have devastating consequences for our community.
Richard Millington, Esq.
Director of Communication
Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)
Following is a letter Mr. Burke dispatched to the Mayor and Police Commissioner of New York City
URGENT LETTER TO THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY REGARDING NYPD POLICE UNLAWFUL ACTION AND ABUSE IN BROOKLYN BY LIEUTENANT CHANCE AND OFFICER CHEN FROM THE 67TH PRECINCT IN BROOKLYN
Dear Mayor Eric Adams:
I hereby file an official complaint with you and NYPD Commissioner Hon. Jessica Tisch, against the aforementioned two NYPD Officers from the 67th Precinct in Brooklyn, for abuse and exceeding their authority as Police Officers.
1. On Saturday, April 5, at approximately 2:30 A.M, I was returning from JFK Airport and traveling south along Utica Avenue, between Church Avenue and Snyder Avenue, with a friend.
2. I stopped and parked at Caribbean Jerkee’s Delight Restaurant, located at 932 Utica Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11203, to purchase food.
3. As I exited my vehicle, a bright flood light flashed appeared from the rare of my vehicle. I looked and saw it was an NYPD cruiser. A male voice on a amplified sound system then shouted words to the effect “get back in your vehicle, and do not exit the vehicle.” I looked back at the vehicle and said “me?”
4. I complied. As I reentered my vehicle the officers at that point turned on the flashing blue, red and white lights. At no time while I was driving to the location was there a Police vehicle behind me, and at no time did a Police vehicle pull behind me with flashing lights to pull me over. An examination of CCT TV or security camera surveillance video footage will establish exactly when the Police vehicle pulled up and turned on its lights. It is obvious that the officers saw the vehicle, and came to investigate who was driving after it was parked.
5. An Officer who identified himself as Officer Chen came and informed me that he approached my vehicle, but it was too dark for him to see if I was wearing my seatbelt. I pointed out that I was exiting the vehicle and could not possibly be wearing seatbelts at that point.
6. I also informed him that under New York State Law, SUVs are allowed to have tinted windows.
7. He collected my driver’s license and asked me to bring up my window. I complied. He then applied a tint meter, went back to his vehicle and returned with a yellow paper folded around my license and said, “I issued you a ticket for tint violation.”
8. I immediately advised him that he did not pull me over, hence, how can he issued me with a moving violation?
9. He initially acknowledged in the presence of my witness that he pulled up to me after I had parked and was exiting my vehicle, and never had his flashing lights on until after he requested that I go back into my vehicle. After he realized that I was challenging the legality of his action, he switched the narrative, and claimed that he pulled me over before I stopped. I observed to him that had that been true, why didn’t he say that he was attempting to pull over, but I failed to stop?
10. I then requested a Lieutenant. At that point, Officer Chen advised me his Lieutenant was in the vehicle, and will come to me.
11. A short African American male, medium build then came to me. He identified himself as Lieutenant Chance. I specifically asked Lieutenant Chance if he authorized Officer Chen to issue me with a moving violation for tints, although I was not driving.
12. He answered in the affirmative, but then unconscionably lied that I was pulled over when driving and that the vehicle lights came on while I was driving. My witness then informed both officers that their story was false. Lieutenant Chance responded that I should take it up with the courts, and began to walk away. I engaged him further and after he realized I caught them in a lie, he tried to end the conversation.
13. I informed him that I will be requesting a meeting with his Precinct Commander and the Borough Command to discuss the matter, and requested their names.
14. Upset that I had challenged his lies, and requested their names, Lieutenant Chance rudely and harshly chucked two business cards in my hand and walked away. I immediately objected to his arrogance and crude, unprofessional behavior.
15. I said, “Lieutenant, did you just shove your card in my hand? That was unprofessional, you should be ashamed of yourself as a supervisor and a leader. He, mumbled something that was inaudible and continued to walk away.
16. Lieutenant Chance is a dishonest officer whose conduct undermines public trust and confidence in the NYPD. He is a disgrace to the NYPD.
17. I have no issue with the ticket. I can and will address it in court. However, as a community leader in New York City, I have a exemplary relationship with the 67th Precinct Commander and other officers, as well as with the Chief of Patrol Borough Brooklyn South. This incident stains all of the 67th Precinct. I deeply resent such unlawful and disrespectful conduct, and abuse of members of our community by Police officers. Moreover, the blatant lies to cover up their unlawful action is an affront to the good work of the NYPD!
18. I am certain that Lieutenant Chance would never indulge in such dishonesty and unprofessional conduct in neighborhoods like Bensonhurst or Bay Ridge. However, he finds communities like East Flatbush and Flatbush suitable for his excesses and reprehensible abuse of citizens.
In light of the issues of illegal and unprofessional conduct delineated herein, I hereby request an investigation of this matter.
Sincerely
Rickford Burke
President
Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)
April 5, 2025
CC:
New York State Attorney General, Hon. Letitia James
New York City Public Advocate Hon. Jumaane D. Williams
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams
New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch
Brooklyn District Attorney Hon. Eric Gonzalez
