The family of an unarmed man killed by an NYPD officer is demanding he be fired.

"How do we look at his son today and say the officer who killed his father is simply going to walk free?” said Ashley Verdeja, the sister of Allan Feliz, who was killed during a traffic stop in the Bronx in 2019. “He's simply going to get ascended to a promotion. That's what the NYPD does in this country. So, Commissioner Tisch, do the right thing.”

Earlier this year, an NYPD discipline judge recommended that Lieutenant Jonathan Rivera be fired, finding him guilty of excessive force and assault. But Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced she will not fire Lt. Rivera, saying he fired that fatal shot because he believed Feliz was about to run over his partner.

"We want to ensure this police commissioner reverses this sham of a decision she just made and make a real one by firing this officer and ensure that this doesn't happen to any other family going forward," said Allan's brother, Samy Feliz.

On October 17, 2019, Lt. Rivera and two other officers pulled over Feliz, saying he was driving without a seatbelt. According to the NYPD, when officers went to pat down Feliz, he tried to drive off. That's when Rivera shot him with a taser, then lunged into the car and threatened to shoot him. That's when the car allegedly car jerked forward and Rivera shot Feliz in the chest.

Translating for their mother, Allan's sister recited his last words, "He only called to say, 'Mom, what are you doing?' and she said, 'Allan, I'm working, what's wrong?' He said, 'Nothing, I'm just calling to say I love you,' She said, 'I love you too.'"

Commissioner Tisch said her decision relied heavily on a report from State Attorney General Letitia James who decided not to prosecute Rivera in 2020. But advocates say this is not about criminality, it’s an administrative issue.

"You should've been looking at the standard of the administrative judge who said that the actions of this officer at minimum means he should be fired," said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. "Commissioner Tisch, you still have the opportunity to do the right thing."

The Civilian Complaint Review Board has until this Friday to respond to the commissioner’s decision before a final determination.