Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace issued the following statement regarding the arrest of Damar Fields by Peekskill Police.
“On Dec. 4, the Peekskill Police Department referred a use-of-force incident involving multiple police officers to our office for review. The incident had occurred the day prior and concerned the arrest of an individual known to the department at the Riverfront Green Park.
“Our office’s Public and Law Enforcement Integrity Bureau immediately began a comprehensive review of this incident. Investigators and Assistant District Attorneys reviewed body-worn camera footage that documented the incident, in its entirely, from multiple angles; interviewed a civilian eyewitness; reviewed post-incident police reports; reviewed independent footage uploaded to social media that depicted a portion of the incident; reviewed the applicable sections of the Peekskill Police Department’s Standard Operating Procedure Manual; and reached out directly to the Peekskill community to solicit any additional, relevant information.
“The primary focus of our review was to determine whether the Peekskill officers’ use of force on Dec. 3 constituted criminal conduct as defined by the New York State Penal Law. After reviewing all of the evidence in this case, our office determined that there is an insufficient basis to pursue criminal charges against any Peekskill police officer involved in this incident.
“We have relayed these findings to Peekskill Police Chief Renwick and referred the matter back to his department for internal investigation. Though not the primary focus of this review, our office recommended to the Peekskill Police Department that it consider additional training on how to deal with mentally ill or emotionally disturbed persons and on the use of de-escalation techniques.
“In the interest of full transparency, our office is publishing the entirety of the body-worn camera footage collected as part of this review. That footage may be viewed on our website, linked here.”
The Westchester Coalition for Police Reform disagreed, stating, “The Westchester Coalition for Police Reform strongly condemns District Attorney Susan Cacace’s decision not to file criminal charges against the police officers involved in the violent assault of Damar Fields on December 3, 2025, at Waterfront Park in Peekskill.
“Damar Fields, an unarmed man with emotional disabilities who was known by Peekskill Police, was beaten and tased three times by armed officers. The decision not to pursue charges sends a dangerous message that excessive force against vulnerable people will go unpunished.
“This outcome is deeply troubling, not only for Damar Fields and his family, but for every resident who participated in good faith in Westchester’s police reform process following the murder of George Floyd. That year-long effort, required by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order, was meant to center de-escalation, accountability, and respect for human dignity. The District Attorney’s decision undermines that work and erodes public trust.
“Serious questions remain unanswered: Why was the Project Alliance Mobile Crisis Response Team, designed to respond to mental health crises, not activated?
“Why did no officer intervene, despite a clear duty-to-intervene policy intended to prevent excessive force? We reiterate our call for the charges against Damar Fields to be dropped immediately. A person experiencing a mental health crisis should not be criminalized.
“When prosecutors decline to act, calls for accountability must not end. We call for independent review, legislative oversight, and systemic reforms to ensure that no one, especially armed government officials, is above the law.
“This is not how our communities choose to be policed. We reject policing rooted in violence and impunity, particularly toward people with emotional disabilities. Accountability is not anti-police. Transparency creates trust. Damar Fields deserves justice. Our communities deserve better.”
The Peekskill NAACP issued the following statement before Cacace’s finding. “The Peekskill NAACP Branch strongly condemns the misuse of power displayed by the police officers involved in Wednesday’s riverfront incident. After reviewing the posted video, it is evident that the officers used excessive force, employed derogatory and inflammatory language, and engaged in racial name-calling toward the man in their custody. This behavior is intolerable and wholly inconsistent with the standards expected of law enforcement.
“We are fortunate that a bystander recorded this incident. It raises a critical question: What happens in the moments when no camera is present to hold those in power accountable? Incidents like this push our progress back by many steps and undermine our ongoing efforts to build open, safe, and trusting communication between the community and law enforcement.
“We acknowledge the decision to suspend the officer; however, we firmly believe the suspension should be without pay pending the outcome of a full and transparent investigation. Moreover, the consequences imposed in this case will speak volumes about whether law enforcement is truly committed to serving the community’s best interests—or whether some officers believe they are above the law.
“While we remain committed to fostering constructive dialogue and cooperation, actions such as these gravely erode public trust. We look forward to hearing from the District Attorney’s Office and the Civilian Complaint Review Board as this matter moves forward.”
We have reviewed the three bodycam video links provided by DA Cacace. It shows a clearly disturbed Damar Fields pulling down his pants and cursing the police officer. After the officer threatens to tase Fields, Fields responds, “how about I kill you.”
The confrontation between the officer and Fields that many have already seen from a witness video ensues, and then back up arrives to detain Fields. About five minutes later Fields appears calm and claims that he did nothing. The officer responds with “you had your dick out.”
The 2nd and 3rd videos provided by the DA are from the other two responding officers. In the 3rd video, Fields appears not to know what just had happened. “What just happened here…I didn’t do anything to you,” said Fields.
At least 8 Peekskill Police officers responded to a call for assistance from the arresting officer, who has yet to be identified.
