Attorneys for the man seen being kicked and punched by Peekskill police on video are going after the officers, two of whom are facing disciplinary charges for their parts in the encounter.

Damar Fields' defense team is requesting personnel records of the officers involved in the Dec. 3 encounter at Riverfront Green Park.

Fields, 42, is fighting four charges relating to the incident, including public lewdness and resisting arrest.

About 20 supporters with signs greeted Fields Thursday morning on his way into Peekskill City Court. They want changes at the police department.

"We need police officers to do the right thing," said Arne Paglia, a Peekskill business owner, "and when something goes wrong, there needs to be a correction, instead of just trying to hide it."

The case was adjourned for a month for the prosecution to prepare the officers' records for Fields' attorney, Michael Sussman.

"We have police action being taken by the department against officers," Sussman said. "That had to be predicated on something fairly serious, and we have an entitlement to all of that."

During Monday night's city council meeting on Zoom, Peekskill Police Chief Adam Renwick said the first officer to respond to the Dec. 3 report about Fields acting erratically, Daniel Regg, failed at de-escalation, failed at communication, and failed to follow use-of-force policies when dealing with an emotionally disturbed person.

Regg and Cintron are facing disciplinary charges and are on unpaid leave from the department while their due process plays out.

Fields, who is homeless, seemed to be in crisis. His pants were down, he was threatening officers and he was not following Officer Regg's commands, according to officials.

Officer Regg tased Fields, sending him to the ground, and then tased Fields several more times.

Regg then punched Fields several times in the face, repeatedly yelling at him to "get down on your [expletive deleted] stomach," according to the video.

Fields emerged from the incident swollen and bloodied.

Chief Renwick said the second officer to arrive, Angelo Cintron, failed to properly assist Regg until more officers arrived to properly de-escalate.

"Accountability remains central to this department's mission," Renwick told the council, "and we will continue to provide updates when appropriate and legally permissible."

The union representing the officers, the Peekskill Police Benevolent Association, wrote in a statement Thursday that "to punish the police officers who were forced to deal with the dangerous actions of a man exposing himself in public, likely high on PCP, who was threatening to kill the police, is a travesty."

Fields is due back in Peekskill City Court on March 26.

When asked on his way out of the courthouse whether he plans to petition for Fields' charges to be dismissed, Sussman said, "It can happen in due course, and it will, just not today."

The Westchester County District Attorney's office declined to comment on the case and the suspensions.

The disciplinary charges against Regg and Cintron will now be put through a more formal process in which the may contest the suspensions, as required under state law, Renwick said.