Death on 17 July, 2014 set off protests over deaths of black men at hands of police with slogan 'I can't breathe' which Garner was heard saying

The New York cop who choked unarmed black man Eric Garner to death in 2014 earned a staggering $120,000 last year.

Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo was stripped of his badge and gun and placed on desk duty after putting asthmatic father-of-six Garner in a fatal choke hold and ignoring his repeated pleas that he could not breathe.

That year, Pantaleo's base pay was $76,488 while he actually made $105,061 with overtime - even though he was moved to 'modified duty' after Garner's death in July 2014.

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Daniel Pantaleo (pictured last year) who choked unarmed black man Eric Garner to death in 2014 earned a staggering $120,000 last year

He has remained on desk duty since then yet in the fiscal year 201 - which ended in July - his base pay jumped to $78,026 while his eventual take home pay was $120,000.

Almost $13,000 of that came from 'unspecified pay' which can include bonuses.

A spokesman for the NYPD said it was not unusual for officers to be required to do overtime.

'At times officers are required to work beyond their scheduled tour of duty, this includes officers on modified assignment,' they said.

But Garner's family were outraged that Pantaleo, 31, was being paid so richly after choking a suspect to death in what should have been a simple misdemeanor arrest for selling cigarettes on the street.

Involvement: Officer Pantaleo, in green, was on plain clothes duty when he and other officers arrested Eric Garner. The 300lbs father of six resisted arrest and Pantaleo used a chokehold

Remembered: Eric Garner with family members. They say they are furious that the cop who killed Garner has received a pay increase after the tragedy

His daughter Erica Garner tweeted: 'This seems like movies. A bad one. No justice, no records, mayor tells me all lives matter. Pantaleo gets a bonus.'

The family have already been pushing for the city's police department to release Pantaleo's disciplinary records.

Famed human rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton said the pay rise was 'a n insult to New Yorkers in general, and particularly those of us who have stood by the Garner family.'

He added that he was concerned not only about the pay, but 'why is he even on the force?'

The NYPD has concluded its investigation into the actions of Pantaleo.

But Police Commissioner Bill Bratton says they will wait for a federal civil rights probe into the incident before proceeding with disciplinary charges which could include Pantaleo being fired.

The Brooklyn US Attorney’s office have not yet announced when they expect the investigation to finish.

Pantaleo was stripped of his badge and gun and placed on desk duty after putting asthmatic father-of-six Garner in a fatal choke hold and ignoring his repeated pleas that he could not breathe

Pantaleo's lawyer declined to comment on the salary increase.

NYPD'S SALARY SCALE New officers in the NYPD receive a starting base salary of $41,975 a year although the salary totals $44,744 with the inclusion of holiday pay, uniform allowance and average night-shift differential. Police officers also receive overtime pay on top of their wage. After just six months, they receive an increase in total compensation to $46,288. Cops receive a steady growth in pay and within five years, a base salary is at $56,609 with a total salary of $69,005. During a cop's sixth year on the job, his base salary jumps from $56,609 to $76,488 per year with total compensation at $90,829. Base pay can continue to grow steadily during an officer's time with the NYPD. These payments exclude overtime and bonus payments. Advertisement

The cop was part of a group of five NYPD officers who stopped Garner, a 300 -pound father of six, for selling loose cigarettes in Staten Island on July 17, 2014.

The incident was filmed by a member of the public and shows Pantaleo, 31, holding Garner, 43, by the neck in a chokehold as he says: 'I can't breathe' 11 times before passing out and dying.

The New York City Medical Examiner ruled that Garner's death was a homicide but a jury in Staten Island decided not to indict Pantaleo.

The City of New York has settled the case with Garner's family for $5.9 million, but Pantaleo's fate remains in the balance.

He has been made a national pariah and even some of his neighbors do not want him around.



The Department of Justice Federal investigation is examining whether Garner's civil rights were breached and whether or not Pantaleo's conduct amount to a 'hate crime'.

Only after that is concluded will the NYPD investigation report back its findings.

Involvement: The Rev AL Sharpton, seen with (from left) Gwen Carr, Eric Garner's mother; Erica Garner, Eric Garner's daughter; Eric Garner jnr, Eric Garner's son; Emerald Garner, Eric Garner's daughter and Esaw Garner, Eric Garner's wife.

Their investigators will examine whether Pantaleo was guilty of using excessive force and if the choke hold he used was within the scope of his training.

Pantaleo could be suspended, fired or given a slap on the wrist - or be completely exonerated.

Garner's death sparked national protests and was one of the most high profile incidents where black men were killed by white cops in the past year which have put race relations in America under intense scrutiny.

When pressed on Pantaleo's pay increase, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio declined to comment, saying he did not know enough about how the police department dealt with those on desk duty to give a statement.

His spokesman later addressed a press conference on Monday saying the mayor had spoken to the police commissioner about the pay and 'this situation will be addressed.

Garner's death sparked national protests and was one of the most high profile incidents where black men were killed by white cops in the past year which have put race relations in America under intense scrutiny