The New York City Police Department said Monday it intends to move forward with its own internal disciplinary proceedings related to the 2014 police-involved death of Eric Garner unless the U.S. Department of Justice moves ahead with charges of its own by Aug. 31.

But a DOJ spokesman said Monday afternoon that Main Justice months ago—back in the spring—had given the green light to a disciplinary proceeding stemming from the Garner matter.