The NYPD will now limit deploying the controversial Strategic Response Group (SRG) unit due to a settlement agreement made over alleged excessive force during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. On Oct. 3, the department entered the second phase of the lawsuit agreement to establish a four-tiered system on how police can respond to protests and other First Amendment activity based on turnout and conditions. The lowest tiers prevent deploying SRG officers entirely.

“We should not see any SRG officers unless there is a tier three protest,” said NYCLU senior staff attorney Veronica Salama. “And for a protest to reach tier three, that has to be authorized by an incident commander. It has to be triggered by a set of limited circumstances. And even then, where we see SRG deployed, we should b

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