NYPD Officers Will Not Face Discipline for Killing Kawaski Trawick

New York City Police Officers Brendan Thomas and Herbert Davis who fatally shot Kawaski Trawick in 2019 will not be disciplined.

On April 12, city police commissioner Edward Caban announced Thomas and Davis will not face internal discipline for the murder of Kawaski, a Black, gay Man while he was in his own apartment. This decision was made despite the Civilian Complaint Review Board calling for the officers to be fired.  

In 2019, 32-year-old Kawaski Trawick called the police as he was locked out of his apartment and was concerned about food left on the stove. While Trawick’s building superintendent called the police claiming Tracwick threatened to punch him, and the building security guard called the police saying Trawick was harassing neighbors, according to a ProPublica investigation. 

Before the police arrived, firefighters let Trawick back into his apartment. Officers Thomas and Davis dislodged a chain lock to enter the apartment, where Trawick was holding a stick in one hand and a break knife in the other. Trawick questioned why they were in his home and said the knife was for cooking. Trawick was then tased by officer Thompson. Trawick stood up and rushed at the officers when Thompson shot at Trawick, although Davisreportedly tried to tell Thompson to not fire his gun. Thomspon shot four times, two of which fatally hit Trawick. According to police documents, the officers left Trawick lying in his apartment.

The Police commissioner cleared both Thomas and Davis of wrongdoing in January 2021, claiming they acted within the law, which he announced on Friday. Officer Thomas remains on active duty and Officer Davis retired this month.

This clearing indicates the larger issue with policing. Both Kawasaki Trawick’s loved ones and people who never got to met him are expressing heartbreak, anger, and disappointment both that it happened, and that there will be not consequences for the perpetrators.