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N.Y.C. Commissioner Denies Racial Bias in Social Distancing Policing N.Y.C. Commissioner Denies Racial Bias in Social Distancing Policing
(32 minutes later)
New York City’s top police official on Wednesday forcefully defended how his officers have enforced social distancing rules after videos of recent arrests and enforcement data fueled complaints that the police were unfairly targeting black and Latino residents.New York City’s top police official on Wednesday forcefully defended how his officers have enforced social distancing rules after videos of recent arrests and enforcement data fueled complaints that the police were unfairly targeting black and Latino residents.
Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea pushed back against assertions from some elected officials and community groups who said the arrest data and videos illustrated a racist double standard for social distancing by the police that was reminiscent of the “stop and frisk” policy.Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea pushed back against assertions from some elected officials and community groups who said the arrest data and videos illustrated a racist double standard for social distancing by the police that was reminiscent of the “stop and frisk” policy.
Mr. Shea, who along with the mayor had previously dismissed the comparison, said that the videos were “incredibly disheartening” and that the officers would be held accountable if investigations showed they had engaged in misconduct.Mr. Shea, who along with the mayor had previously dismissed the comparison, said that the videos were “incredibly disheartening” and that the officers would be held accountable if investigations showed they had engaged in misconduct.
But he disputed the notion that the police were engaged in “racist policing,” saying those charges “could not be anything further from the truth.” He noted that the majority of the force’s officers were not white and that overall arrests and summonses had dropped to low levels even before the pandemic hit.But he disputed the notion that the police were engaged in “racist policing,” saying those charges “could not be anything further from the truth.” He noted that the majority of the force’s officers were not white and that overall arrests and summonses had dropped to low levels even before the pandemic hit.
“Our record over the last six and a half years is there for anyone to see in how we police this city with the lightest possible touch,” he said.“Our record over the last six and a half years is there for anyone to see in how we police this city with the lightest possible touch,” he said.
He added that he would “not have my police department called a racist police department.”He added that he would “not have my police department called a racist police department.”
Several elected officials, public defenders and community groups had called on the mayor to curtail the Police Department’s role in enforcing rules against large gatherings or people standing close together as videos surfaced of officers handing out masks to mostly white visitors in parks while others used force to arrest people in black and Hispanic neighborhoods.Several elected officials, public defenders and community groups had called on the mayor to curtail the Police Department’s role in enforcing rules against large gatherings or people standing close together as videos surfaced of officers handing out masks to mostly white visitors in parks while others used force to arrest people in black and Hispanic neighborhoods.
Those calls grew louder after the police released data on summonses and arrests over the past week that showed more than 90 percent of people arrested and 82 percent of those who received summonses for offenses related to the pandemic have been black or Hispanic.Those calls grew louder after the police released data on summonses and arrests over the past week that showed more than 90 percent of people arrested and 82 percent of those who received summonses for offenses related to the pandemic have been black or Hispanic.
Letitia James, the state attorney general, stepped into the fray on Wednesday, calling the disparities “deeply troubling” and warning they could deepen a divide between the police and the people they are supposed to protect.Letitia James, the state attorney general, stepped into the fray on Wednesday, calling the disparities “deeply troubling” and warning they could deepen a divide between the police and the people they are supposed to protect.
“It is inherently wrong to aggressively police one group of people yet ignore another group that commits the same infraction,” said Ms. James, who is black. “The N.Y.P.D. must better ensure that a New Yorker’s race, color, and neighborhood does not determine how they are patrolled.”“It is inherently wrong to aggressively police one group of people yet ignore another group that commits the same infraction,” said Ms. James, who is black. “The N.Y.P.D. must better ensure that a New Yorker’s race, color, and neighborhood does not determine how they are patrolled.”
She said her office had requested more expansive data about social-distancing enforcement from the Police Department, including precinct-by-precinct breakdowns of the age and race of those arrested or given summonses for failing to comply with social distancing rules.She said her office had requested more expansive data about social-distancing enforcement from the Police Department, including precinct-by-precinct breakdowns of the age and race of those arrested or given summonses for failing to comply with social distancing rules.
She also demanded documents outlining the department’s policy, directives and training. A number of elected officials, public defender groups and members of the news media have also requested the information.She also demanded documents outlining the department’s policy, directives and training. A number of elected officials, public defender groups and members of the news media have also requested the information.
The police commissioner’s comments seemed aimed at quelling discontent among officers and their labor unions, who have expressed frustration with a mandate that they say is unclear and steers officers away from fighting crime and toward a public health role in the coronavirus crisis. At the height of the pandemic, nearly 20 percent of officers were out sick, though most who were infected with the virus have recovered and returned to work.The police commissioner’s comments seemed aimed at quelling discontent among officers and their labor unions, who have expressed frustration with a mandate that they say is unclear and steers officers away from fighting crime and toward a public health role in the coronavirus crisis. At the height of the pandemic, nearly 20 percent of officers were out sick, though most who were infected with the virus have recovered and returned to work.
Mr. Shea has said in the past that his hands are tied by mandates from the mayor and the governor. On Wednesday, he again voiced his concern that enforcing social distancing might reverse the progress the police have made in rebuilding community ties, a key part of the department’s plan to push the city’s historically low crime rates down even further.Mr. Shea has said in the past that his hands are tied by mandates from the mayor and the governor. On Wednesday, he again voiced his concern that enforcing social distancing might reverse the progress the police have made in rebuilding community ties, a key part of the department’s plan to push the city’s historically low crime rates down even further.
Last Friday, the department said that between March 16 and May 5, officers had issued at least 374 summonses for violating the emergency measures and for acts likely to spread the virus. Of those, 300 summonses went to black and Hispanic people.Last Friday, the department said that between March 16 and May 5, officers had issued at least 374 summonses for violating the emergency measures and for acts likely to spread the virus. Of those, 300 summonses went to black and Hispanic people.
Of the 125 people arrested for various offenses related to the coronavirus epidemic since the city was shut down in mid-March, 83 were black and 30 were Hispanic, according to data released on Tuesday. Those incidents ranged from hate crimes to fights that started with someone jumping a line at a supermarket, the police said. One was a bank robbery in which the robber showed a teller a note saying he had the disease caused by the virus.Of the 125 people arrested for various offenses related to the coronavirus epidemic since the city was shut down in mid-March, 83 were black and 30 were Hispanic, according to data released on Tuesday. Those incidents ranged from hate crimes to fights that started with someone jumping a line at a supermarket, the police said. One was a bank robbery in which the robber showed a teller a note saying he had the disease caused by the virus.
Updated August 3, 2020 Updated August 4, 2020
Commissioner Shea deflected questions about what was driving those disparities on Wednesday. He said “disparities exist in every facet of life, not just in New York City, but in this country,” and suggested they were rooted in societal forces outside of the control of the police.Commissioner Shea deflected questions about what was driving those disparities on Wednesday. He said “disparities exist in every facet of life, not just in New York City, but in this country,” and suggested they were rooted in societal forces outside of the control of the police.
“But no one is talking about the disparity of the last 10 homicide victims in New York City, and I think that should be spoken about,” he added, apparently referring to the fact that the victims were mostly people of color. “Or the victims of robberies across this city.”“But no one is talking about the disparity of the last 10 homicide victims in New York City, and I think that should be spoken about,” he added, apparently referring to the fact that the victims were mostly people of color. “Or the victims of robberies across this city.”
The police commissioner also said some officers and their families had received death threats “over 10-second videos where the police officers are dealing with individuals that, quite frankly, fight not just with the police department, they fight with everyone.” He provided no details about the threats.The police commissioner also said some officers and their families had received death threats “over 10-second videos where the police officers are dealing with individuals that, quite frankly, fight not just with the police department, they fight with everyone.” He provided no details about the threats.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday the racial disparities in arrests did not reflect the city’s values, but he insisted the police must play a role in enforcing social distancing. Under pressure to shift away from a police-driven approach to the rules, he announced on Sunday that the city planned to hire 2,300 civilian ambassadors to promote behavioral changes like wearing masks and gloves.Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday the racial disparities in arrests did not reflect the city’s values, but he insisted the police must play a role in enforcing social distancing. Under pressure to shift away from a police-driven approach to the rules, he announced on Sunday that the city planned to hire 2,300 civilian ambassadors to promote behavioral changes like wearing masks and gloves.
“We are going to engage more and more faith communities and community organizations to be the front, the sort of leading edge of the effort to educate people,” he said on Wednesday, adding the police would play a role “only when necessary.”“We are going to engage more and more faith communities and community organizations to be the front, the sort of leading edge of the effort to educate people,” he said on Wednesday, adding the police would play a role “only when necessary.”
Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president and a former police captain, said that threats against officers were “completely reprehensible and unacceptable.”Eric Adams, the Brooklyn borough president and a former police captain, said that threats against officers were “completely reprehensible and unacceptable.”
But he said that officials needed to be “cleareyed and honest” in recognizing that the disparities in social distancing enforcement are consistent with a long history of policing policies that disproportionately targeted people of color, including the “the unjust application of stop and frisk.”But he said that officials needed to be “cleareyed and honest” in recognizing that the disparities in social distancing enforcement are consistent with a long history of policing policies that disproportionately targeted people of color, including the “the unjust application of stop and frisk.”
Mr. Adams said videos like the one showing officers tackling a man in East New York have angered people in neighborhoods previously affected by heavy-handed policing tactics. Relying less on police and more on civilians to promote social distancing is one way, he said, of “addressing that anger, while ensuring we don’t do irreversible harm to police-community relations.”Mr. Adams said videos like the one showing officers tackling a man in East New York have angered people in neighborhoods previously affected by heavy-handed policing tactics. Relying less on police and more on civilians to promote social distancing is one way, he said, of “addressing that anger, while ensuring we don’t do irreversible harm to police-community relations.”