Family Calls On NYPD To Mandate CPR Refresher Courses
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The family of a Brooklyn girl who died after a police officer allegedly failed to help her are renewing their calls for justice.
Michael and Carmen Ojeda, the parents of 11-year-old Briana Ojeda who died on August 27 from an asthma attack, are demanding an independent criminal investigation into the officer's conduct.
Officer Alfonso Mendez was already suspended for failing to take proper police action.
Briana's parents are now proposing legislation that would mandate every officer be trained and recertified annually in CPR and first aid.
The law would also punish officers who refuse to give emergency medical assistance.
"If every police officer, every police officer was recertificate in the CPR, then I will guarantee you that we would not be standing here at this moment," said State Assemblyman Felix Ortiz.
Police say officers are trained in the technique and CPR refresher courses are offered every two years, but they may not be mandatory.
Briana's mother was driving her daughter to the hospital when she was stopped by Mendez for driving the wrong way up a one-way street.
She says Mendez boxed her in and claimed not to know CPR.