NYPD Commissioner Dermont Shea said Monday (June 15) that the change will affect roughly 600 plainclothes officers in every precinct who will be reassigned as the department switches to focus on community-based efforts.

Shea said that the decision to introduce the new reforms was his and said he supports reforming police but still believes defunding the department is the wrong move.

The protests began after 46-year-old George Floyd was killed by former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin on May 25.

Four former officers have since been arrested and charged for their involvement in the 46-year-old’s death, including Chauvin, who was initially charged with third-degree murder and third degree manslaughter.

On June 3, Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison upgraded the charges against Chauvin to Second Degree murder for the death of Floyd on and also charged the three other officers involved, J Alexander Kueng, Tou Thao and Thomas Lane with aiding and abetting murder.