Review Criticizes Cops For 2004 GOP Convention Arrests

The city's independent Civilian Complaint Review Board is set to release a highly critical report Wednesday concerning two deputy police chiefs and the way they handled protestors at the Republican National Convention two years ago.

The report concludes the two chiefs, identified by sources as Stephen Paragallo and Terrence Monahan, yelled confusing orders to marchers, which led to unnecessary arrests.

The board found that during a march on Fulton Street, protesters got stuck on sidewalks with no easy way to get out.

It also says police orders to clear the streets during a march near Herald Square led to un-necessary confusion.

The report says that in both cases the chiefs did not use bullhorns, and that if they had, other police officers and protesters would have better understood their orders.

Most of the complaints were filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union. Mayor Michael Bloomberg disagrees with their findings.

"I think it's time for Mayor Bloomberg to recognize and acknowledge that some mistakes were made and there's no crime in that. And there are things that can be done to address those mistakes," said Christopher Dunn of the NYCLU. "He's the mayor of the city, he runs the city, not Ray Kelly, and I think there is now enough evidence to indicate that it's time for the mayor to step in."

"I think that if you look at the police department's activities during the Republican National Convention, it is a poster child for how to give people the ability to express themselves and at the same time protect those who wanted to go about their business without expressing themselves," said the mayor.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says the convention was one of the department's finest hours.

In a statement, Kelly takes exception to the report, saying police do not have to give a warning before making an arrest.

He praised the NYPD for its work during the convention, saying nearly a million demonstrators came in contact with the police that week and only 63 complaints were filed.

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