NYPD to check cops for stop & frisk bias
BY TINA MOORE
DAILY NEWS POLICE BUREAU
Friday, February 29th 2008, 4:00 AM
The NYPD is examining ways to track the stop-and-frisk patterns of
individual cops to determine whether their actions are racially
biased, police said.
If instituted, the move would follow one of six recommendations made
by the Rand Corp., which studied the NYPD's stop-and-frisk practices
to determine whether bias existed.
"The department is currently examining ways to implement all of the
recommendations, including ways to flag anomalous stop patterns by
individual officers," said Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne.
In recent years, blacks and Hispanics have made up a greater share of
the stops than their percentage of the general population, prompting
charges of racial profiling. The department has denied racial bias,
saying the stops were based on descriptions of crime suspects, a large
majority of whom were described as black or Hispanic.
The NYPD, which stopped more than 500,000 New Yorkers in 2006,
commissioned the Rand Corp. to perform the review. It concluded that
the NYPD's tactics were race-neutral.
Rand researchers called it "problematic," however, that 15 cops
stopped substantially more minority pedestrians than other officers
and suggested tracking individual cops.
Chris Dunn, associate legal director of the New York Civil Liberties
Union, said tracking individual cops was "an important first step."
"But it will be essential to see what behavior they will actually
track and what steps they will take when they find problems," he said.
"On this last point, the department does not have a good track record."
The report made six recommendations, including reviewing the boroughs
with the largest racial disparities in stops and tracking the use of
force in stops.
Eugene O'Donnell, a professor at the John Jay College of Criminal
Justice, said identifying cops who needed more training was a good
thing. "What they don't want to do," he said, "is to start
scapegoating cops and sending a mixed message."
tmoore@...
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Calico Feb 29, 2008 3:46:14 PM Report Offensive Post
I was stopped in a '65 Mustang; I stepped out & locked the door as the
2nd officer saw me remove my seat belt. The officer said that I didn't
have a seat belt; I politely said, "Look at the seat, there's the seat
belt." He said, "Why weren't you wearing the shoulder harness?" I
said, "My car's old, & didn't bring it; & current law only requires
the seat belt." He asked to search my car, & I said, "Sure, show me
your court order." He tried to get me on the defensive," Do you have
anything to hide" & I quickly replied, "No, but I have my legal, civil
& Constitutional rights, liberties & freedoms to protect; do YOU have
a problem w/that, officer?" He walked away w/out responding. I called
after him as he opened the door to his cruiser & he yelled, "WHAT?" &
I smiled & said, "Have a nice day, & be sure to tell Capt T (his CO)
that I sent him my regards!" You should've seen the color drain from
his face as I noted his cruiser number! I think he emptied his pamper
all over the front seat.
Calico Feb 29, 2008 3:51:56 PM Report Offensive Post
The 2nd officer knew me; he kept quiet & was stifling his laughter as
the first cop was going to show him the fine art of harassing a little
long haired freak." That evening, the 2nd officer came to my mom's
home & we laughed for hours! My late older brother had trained this
guy in Martial Arts, & had seen him grow up along with my nephews &
niece. He KNEW that I was going to somehow turn the tables on the
other cop (known as a ballbuster). All the other municipal cops
started waving at me soon thereafter.
amerock Feb 29, 2008 4:09:36 PM Report Offensive Post
Eventually maybe you will all get your wish and they wont stop anyone
anymore. That will be great when criminals roam the streets with
reckless abandon knowing that cops wont stop them for fear of losing
their jobs. BTW sense what mall do you work at? LOL
Calico Feb 29, 2008 11:35:59 PM Report Offensive Post
amerock - of course, YOU don't mind when others are inconvenienced or
picked on for no reason other than the lame excuse "you 'fit' the
description" nonsense; but, you'd be screaming like a banshee if it
were YOU consistently being stopped repeated and harassed.
WFOX44 Mar 1, 2008 7:11:22 AM Report Offensive Post
The best way for those in the NYPD to examine whether or not there is
a stop & frisk bias is to have the examiners physically with cops
during their shifts who stop & frisk people to see if the frisks are
based on race, a suspicion, or a witnessed event. Race & witnessed
event are cut & dry. Suspicion, however, has to be dissected into the
particular suspicion. That is the best way to determine if the frisks
are appropriate or not. Also, cops should be required to submit
reports of frisks from their cruiser laptops, indicating why the
frisks were performed in the first place. Having proper documentation
in place is everything in a justification situation. But of course the
facts have to be accurate. I say we all just walk around naked & frisk
each other.
hjo4 Mar 1, 2008 7:17:17 AM Report Offensive Post
I've often stated if you're stopped by the police for no apparent
reason by all means be polite and cooperate. Present your ID and
remember or jot down the officers badge# or patrol car number. Report
the incident to the civilian complaint review board and seek legal
assistance.Follow up this will not be solved overnight, you will be
discouraged thats why a lawyer is needed .If the only way to stop this
is for the city to be bogged down in litigation , paying citizens
millions of dollars because of this racist policy then so be it.After
awhile this policy will cease to exist.When the city must pay money,
there policies change PDQ.
Ondajob Mar 1, 2008 11:05:15 AM Report Offensive Post
CCRB is a joke my man...keep wasting your time. you forget blacks and
hispanics are the majority of those living in the hood, projects what
do you expecet? they are the ones stop and the ones who are the
majority of the arrest. Stop hanging out in the lobby of your building
smoking a blunt...drinking henessy and you will not be stoped by police.
Far Rockaway Bluefish Mar 1, 2008 11:26:32 AM Report Offensive Post
A Police friend of mine said "if you feel the officer that stopped you
was targeting you because of your race don't waste your time with the
CCRB, go directly to IAD, and report it to them and they will do their
own investigation", and trust me it works.
napomite Mar 1, 2008 12:46:24 PM Report Offensive Post
Look, this is the problem in a nut shell, the jails are packed to the
gills w/ black and hispanic men. That is an unfortunate reality. It`s
too bad for the decent black and hispanic men in this society who
aren`t criminals. If the rolls were reversed and the majority of
crimes being commited were by white men then I`m pretty sure white men
would be the one`s getting stopped and frisked. It`s commen sense.
Untill that changes, black and hispanic men will be singled out.
Again, it`s too bad for the inocent.
DaveP Mar 3, 2008 12:36:18 AM Report Offensive Post
A cop has the right (yeah!) to stop, question and frisk any person in
a public place and inquire their nam e, address and reason for being
there. That being said, there are ways to do it, and ways NOT to do
it. It can be done in a non-accusatory manner, that leaves the citizen
feeling that maybe the cop wasn't picking on him personally, and that
maybe there was a legitimate reason that he was stopped. If the cop is
smart he will articulate to the person the reason he was stopped. The
cop should smile alot, be polite, try to put the person at ease. In
short it does not have to be a confrontation every time a cops talks
to someone. You say something like ' "Good evening, sir. I'm PO
Friendly and this is my beat. I know most of the folks here by sight,
but I don't recognize you. Do you live around here? May I see some ID
please? blah-blah-blah. Short and sweet. Thank you sir, Have a nice
night." It does not have to be an interrogation.
