Officer Daniel Pantaleo appears before police review board to discuss Eric Garner death

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The officer principally involved in the chokehold death of Eric Garner has appeared before the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau.

Investigators questioned officer Daniel Pantaleo on Tuesday. Police Commissioner William Bratton had promised an "expeditious" IAB review that could result in Pantaleo's termination.

The police union has argued that Pantaleo is "literally an Eagle Scout" and deserves to remain on the force.

The NYPD's review of the case had to wait for the state criminal investigation to run its course.

Daniel Pantaleo's attorney, Stuart London, said his client testified for about two hours, repeating a lot of what he told the grand jury.

Pantaleo was shown at least two videos and went through them step-by-step, said London said. "He indicated he never used a chokehold. He used a takedown technique he was taught in the Academy. He said he never exerted any pressure on the windpipe and never intended to injure Mr. Garner. He was literally trying to effectuate an arrest with someone who was non-compliant," he said

"He was confident and related the facts in an accurate and professional manner," said London.

On Friday, internal affairs interviewed a handful of officers who responded to the scene where Garner was taken into custody, including Pantaleo's partner, Officer Justin Damico.

Meanwhile, most of New York's Democratic state senators are advocating legislation to establish a special state prosecutor to investigate deaths caused by police. The 17 current and newly elected senators said they back the proposed Office of Special Investigation within the state Attorney General's Office.

It would automatically review any offense by a police officer resulting in the death of an unarmed individual and consider reviewing cases when the victim is allegedly armed.

Sen. Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who leads Democrats in the Republican-controlled chamber, said Garner's death by police on Staten Island, videotaped and widely watched, and the subsequent grand jury decision to indict no officers were "disturbing."

The criminal justice system needs to be reformed to ensure civilians are protected and to restore public trust in law enforcement, she said.

Separately, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito has made a formal request for an inspector general investigation into the NYPD. The probe will focus on how the department "tracks, monitors and addresses alleged abusive conduct."

The council is taking action on something that came up in last year's mayoral race, an inspector general over the police department.

The council says it is a response to the Eric Garner case.

Opponents last year had argued police already have prosecutors and watchdog agencies, along with Internal Affairs investigating them.

But on Wednesday officials said it's not enough. They want more oversight.

"First and foremost we want them to look at how it is tracked, whether or not cops, officers that abuse their power or have any complaints against them," said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

"And the Inspector General was created for the specific purpose of again looking at reforms, ways to address policing in the city of New York and so I'm happy the City Council has directed the Inspector General to do just this," said New York City Public Advocate Letitia James.

Also Wednesday the City Council announced the Civilian Complaint Review Board will begin to open satellite services to make it more convenient for someone to make a formal complaint about police.

City leaders say the CCRB under the previous administration was weakened, and they want to change that.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.