Peekskill Police Officer Daniel Regg
By Dan Murphy
Let me first say that watching the Peekskill Police bodycam of the arrest and use of force on Damar Fields at the Riverfront Green park on Dec. 3 was difficult to watch. Many were outraged by what happened and wondered how his arrest could have been handled more peacefully.
But after reading the decision by Westchester DA Susan Cacace and the Peekskill Police Department’s use-of-force policy, some have a different view.
This story comes days after the Peekskill Police Department suspended Officers Daniel Regg and Angelo Cintron for their actions on the day of Fields’ arrest.
Peekskill Police Chief Adam Renwick, who was only recently appointed chief of police in December of 2025, made the announcement at the Peekskill Common Council meeting on Feb.24.
“Based on the seriousness of the alleged misconduct, both officers have been placed on unpaid suspension pending the outcome of the disciplinary process,” Renwick said in a prepared statement.
“The departmental charges against Officer Regg relate to failures in communication, de-escalation, and adherence to departmental use of force and emotionally disturbed person policies.”
“The departmental charges against Officer Cintron relate to failures in duty performance and adherence to departmental conduct and performance standards while assisting at the scene. The officers are prohibited from performing the duties of a police officer until the suspension is repealed,” said Renwick.
But police sources we spoke to said it is more likely that Regg will be fired from his position in the Peekskill PD rather than being allowed to rejoin the force.
Before the Damar Fields incident, Officer Regg was involved in another high-profile criminal case in Peekskill: The murder of social worker Maria Coto by Haseem Jenkins in 2024.
Coto was going to see a client on May 14, 2024, when she knocked on the wrong apartment door in Peekskill. Jenkins answered the door and began attacking Coto, who ran into another apartment across the landing, called 911, but after a continued attack by Jenkins, she later died from her injuries. Jenkins was convicted of 2nd degree murder and was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
Prosecutors alleged at the trial that Jenkins was high on PCP. Police officer Regg was one of several officers who responded and brought Jenkins to police headquarters.
Regg testified at the trial that he observed Jenkins while he was in the holding cell, and that Jenkins had at first denied taking PCP but claimed that someone had “laced him,” or given him a cigarette laced with PCP. When Regg challenged that claim, Jenkins said, “Nobody laced me.”
One year later, Officer Regg responded to a call at the Riverfront Green park in Peekskill of a naked man walking around the gazebo area.
Damar Fields is a homeless resident of Peekskill who has a mental illness. But on the date and time that Officer Regg was the first PPD officer to respond, Fields was acting erratically and hostile.
In our view, Regg appeared fearful of Fields during the initial moments of the confrontation. Fields also has drug problems and has been arrested several times for drug possession.
Was Fields on PCP at the time of his confrontation with Officer Regg? Several law enforcement sources we spoke to said it is likely, and that is why he refused to pull his pants up.
Was Officer Regg recalling the death of Maria Coto by Jenkins, who was on PCP?
That answer, which we may never know, is vital to determine if Officer Regg was within his rights to forcibly arrest Damar Fields.
The Peekskill PBA issued the following statement on Feb. 25: “The men and women of the Peekskill PBA are thankful for the fair and objective review by the DA’s Office of the recent arrest and justified use of force case at the Riverfront Green Park. We implore anyone who is concerned with this case to review all of the body-worn camera footage with the proper perspective of the responding police officers who have to make life-changing decisions without the luxury of hindsight.
“As we saw in this case, these split-second decisions are often made dealing with people who are high on dangerous narcotics like PCP or ‘crack’ cocaine. For a reminder of how dangerous this can be, just look at the recent conviction of the “unarmed” Haseem Jenkins, who murdered a social worker with his bare hands right here in Peekskill.
“During the recent City Council meeting, we heard the unfortunate news on the decision to suspend both PO Regg and PO Cintron without pay. To say that we are disappointed with this decision would be an understatement. The District Attorney has determined that the use of force by Police Officers Regg and Cintron was justified under the law. Additionally, the officers clearly followed the Peekskill PD’s use-of-force policy. Simply put, there is one person at fault for this incident, and that is Damar Fields. To punish the police officers who were forced to deal with the dangerous actions of a man exposing himself in public, likely high on PCP, who was threatening to kill the police, is a travesty.
“The reality of the danger our Officers face on every call cannot be overlooked. The men and women of the Peekskill Police Department thank the community for their support and understanding,” end of statement.
The body cam video shows Officer Regg struggling to detain Fields, with some claiming that Fields was attempting to reach Regg’s gun. Part of the bodycam video shows a naked Fields telling Officer Regg, “I’ll kill you, you’re dead.”
The PPD’s Use of Force policy is clear: that it is the officer’s point of view at the time of the incident that matters, not others with the power of 20/20 hindsight.
The policy states:
B. Objectively Reasonable – An objective standard used to judge an officer’s actions.
Under this standard, a particular application of force must be judged through the perspective of a reasonable officer facing the same set of circumstances, without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, and be based on the totality of the facts that are known to that officer at the time that the force was used.
District Attorney Susan Cacace determined that there was “an insufficient basis to pursue criminal charges against any Peekskill police officer involved in this incident.”
Based on the use-of-force policy, it is Regg’s perspective on Fields’ behavior that matters. The policy states that the “application of force must be judged through the perspective of a reasonable officer facing the same set of circumstances, without the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, and be based on the totality of the facts that are known to that officer at the time that the force was used.”
“At the time of the incident, Regg only knew a few things. That Fields, who was naked from the waist down, was acting incoherently, was clearly high on PCP, was shouting that he would kill Regg, and refused all Regg’s lawful orders. Through experience, including but not limited to the Jenkins case, Regg also knew the dangers of dealing with someone high on PCP,” said one Westchester law enforcement member.
PBA Attorney Andrew C. Quinn, Esq, stated in December, “Once again, and predictably, individuals who are ignorant to the totality of facts surrounding this arrest have accused our police officer of misconduct. One of the most challenging tasks a police officer faces is placing a violent, resisting individual under arrest. It may be “hard to watch”, but it takes force to overcome violence, and bravery to confront danger. We remember that no call is ever “routine” and recognize the dangers inherent in policing and the risks faced by the Westchester police community every day. We thank the members of the Peekskill Police Department – and all of the police departments throughout the County – for keeping our neighborhoods and families safe.”
