They ask to investigate the dismissal of a black police officer who intervened when a colleague was doing a neck restraining maneuver

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Trump refers to actions in police reform

(CNN) - Buffalo, New York, officials want an investigation into the firing of a black police officer who intervened when a white colleague was doing a neck restraining maneuver on a suspect.

The incident occurred in November 2006. At the time, Officer Cariol Horne had turned 19 of the 20 years necessary to receive her pension, a Horne spokesperson told CNN.

But Horne was fired for intervening and did not qualify for the pension, according to the city.

"The message was sent that blue line is not crossed and that's why some agents ... many agents do not," Horne said in an interview Tuesday with CNN's Brianna Keilar.

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"I don't want any agent going through what I've been through," Horne continued. “I had five children and I lost everything, but (the suspect) did not lose his life. So if I don't have anything else to live for in life, at least I can know that I did the right thing and that (he) still breathes, ”he added.

To rectify what it perceives as a mistake, the Buffalo Common Council, the legislative branch of the city government, has submitted a resolution to the New York attorney general's office to review the case a second time.

• READ: New York lawmakers pass bills to sanction police misconduct

The council refers to the case of George Floyd, who died after then-Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin pressed his knee to the neck for eight minutes and 46 seconds on May 25. Chauvin was fired and charged with willful manslaughter. Three other officers at the scene were charged with aiding and abetting unintentional manslaughter and aiding and abetting a manslaughter.

"There is a responsibility to propose special protections for individual police officers who intervene to protect citizens in situations of excessive use of force involving other officers," the council said in its resolution.

The resolution asks the Buffalo Police Department to comply with and train officers in the "duty to intervene" policy within the next 30 days and to verify any discrepancies in attendance on the days necessary for her to receive her pension.

The "duty to intervene" policy requires that officers protect citizens from unnecessary or excessive use of force, the resolution says.

"Now we have a totally different attorney general, we have a totally different climate and atmosphere and lens right now, around the world, when it comes to the police in America," said the chairman of the Buffalo Common Council. Darius Pridgen to CNN affiliate WIVB.

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"So I think it is an opportune time to review this case and see if there are reparable civil rights violations," he said.

When asked if she hoped that the investigation into her case could lead to her obtaining the pension, Horne said she hopes so.

"I hope the mayor does the right thing because, as I said, no agent should go through what I've been through to do the right thing," he said.

The New York attorney general's office told CNN it will not comment at this time.

CNN has contacted the Buffalo Police Department regarding this incident.

CNN's Mirna Alsharif and Jacqueline Rose contributed to this report.

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