A string of largely unexplained deaths of people in New York City police custody is now under investigation by an independent city agency, a Police Department official said on Monday.
The official, Michael Gerber, the deputy commissioner of legal matters, disclosed the inquiry by the city’s Department of Investigation as he was questioned at a hearing by the City Council’s public safety committee about the deaths of nine people in custody this year.
The Department of Investigation, if it finds criminal wrongdoing, can refer cases to prosecutors and work with them.
The prisoners’ deaths, and others that occurred in the city’s jails in 2025, have sparked criticism from advocacy and legal groups, which have accused the city of not doing enough to ensure the safety of its detainees.
The Legal Aid Society called for an investigation in a letter 10 days ago to the investigation department. Diane Struzzi, a spokeswoman for the department, said the effort had begun in response to the letter and an array of news media reports.
“Given that the investigation is in its initial stages, it is premature to comment on its scope,” she said.
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