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Stop-and-frisk can only work after real police reform Stop-and-frisk can only work after real police reform
(4 months later)
New York City just passed two more milestones in the long battle of the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy, and both are ominous signs for the future.New York City just passed two more milestones in the long battle of the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy, and both are ominous signs for the future.
In March, the five millionth New Yorker was stopped and frisked by the police under Mayor Bloomberg's tenure in office. Just as troubling, a federal lawsuit against the broken policy got underway – a trial that could end with federal monitoring of and interference in our police department.In March, the five millionth New Yorker was stopped and frisked by the police under Mayor Bloomberg's tenure in office. Just as troubling, a federal lawsuit against the broken policy got underway – a trial that could end with federal monitoring of and interference in our police department.
These are clear signs that the rampant overuse and misuse of stop-and-frisk has become unmanageable and even dangerous. Lack of oversight, tacit acceptance of racial profiling and quotas, and a failure to recognize the damage inflicted by the current policy on police-community ties have led city police and government to this point. If we don't change course now, we'll jeopardize the long-term safety of our neighborhoods.These are clear signs that the rampant overuse and misuse of stop-and-frisk has become unmanageable and even dangerous. Lack of oversight, tacit acceptance of racial profiling and quotas, and a failure to recognize the damage inflicted by the current policy on police-community ties have led city police and government to this point. If we don't change course now, we'll jeopardize the long-term safety of our neighborhoods.
Stop-and-frisk has turned New York into A Tale of Two Cities. In some neighborhoods, kids walk to school and back without the slightest fear, and parents come home late from work knowing the streets are safe. Their relationship with police is one of deep mutual respect, as it should be. No one should fear crime where they live and work.Stop-and-frisk has turned New York into A Tale of Two Cities. In some neighborhoods, kids walk to school and back without the slightest fear, and parents come home late from work knowing the streets are safe. Their relationship with police is one of deep mutual respect, as it should be. No one should fear crime where they live and work.
But that's not the story in other neighborhoods, like Flatbush or Morrisania, where we lose promising kids to stray bullets with startling frequency. In those communities, parents worry about the gangs and crews, but they also fear what will happen when their son is stopped by police.But that's not the story in other neighborhoods, like Flatbush or Morrisania, where we lose promising kids to stray bullets with startling frequency. In those communities, parents worry about the gangs and crews, but they also fear what will happen when their son is stopped by police.
In 2011, there were more stops of young African-American men than there were young African-American men in our city – 168,000 stops versus 158,000 young men. In neighborhoods like East Flatbush, at least 95% of the people stopped last year were black or Latino. Stop-and-frisk can be a legal and valuable option in the police's book of tactics – but not when it amounts to racial profiling.In 2011, there were more stops of young African-American men than there were young African-American men in our city – 168,000 stops versus 158,000 young men. In neighborhoods like East Flatbush, at least 95% of the people stopped last year were black or Latino. Stop-and-frisk can be a legal and valuable option in the police's book of tactics – but not when it amounts to racial profiling.
The numbers show it's just not an effective policy when used with such a broad strokes. Last year, it took the police 731 stops to find a single gun. Of the people stopped, 90% were not arrested or issued any summons; they're innocent. A city can't subject innocent people to that treatment over and over and not pay a price. The numbers show it's just not an effective policy when used with such a broad strokes. Last year, it took the police 731 stops to find a single gun. Of the people stopped, 90% were not arrested or issued any summons; they're innocent. A city can't subject innocent people to that treatment over and over and not pay a price. 
And yet, our mayor is doubling down on stop-and-frisk. With great fanfare, he gave a scathing speech that accused his critics of opening the floodgates to more crime, murder and mayhem. The mayor tried to ram a false choice down the throats of New Yorkers: that we must pick between safety or respect, but cannot have both. And when I challenged the assertion made by the police commissioner that African Americans were being 'under-stopped,' I was accused of "race-baiting".And yet, our mayor is doubling down on stop-and-frisk. With great fanfare, he gave a scathing speech that accused his critics of opening the floodgates to more crime, murder and mayhem. The mayor tried to ram a false choice down the throats of New Yorkers: that we must pick between safety or respect, but cannot have both. And when I challenged the assertion made by the police commissioner that African Americans were being 'under-stopped,' I was accused of "race-baiting".
What the mayor's fearmongering speech did not address was how we repair the police-community relations that have been so damaged by the unethical use of stop-and-frisk, and that are so important to disrupting gangs, finding guns and preventing crime. We need to restore that trust, and the flow of information that comes with it. It's a plea I hear from neighborhood residents, and also from police officers on the beat. They know all the quotas and stopping of innocent people only make the job of real policing harder and puts them at greater risk.What the mayor's fearmongering speech did not address was how we repair the police-community relations that have been so damaged by the unethical use of stop-and-frisk, and that are so important to disrupting gangs, finding guns and preventing crime. We need to restore that trust, and the flow of information that comes with it. It's a plea I hear from neighborhood residents, and also from police officers on the beat. They know all the quotas and stopping of innocent people only make the job of real policing harder and puts them at greater risk.
We can keep neighborhoods safe, and go after the real criminals – but we need big changes to do it.We can keep neighborhoods safe, and go after the real criminals – but we need big changes to do it.
First, it's time for real oversight at the NYPD. We need an independent inspector general who has the power to review police procedures, like stop-and-frisk, before they get out of control. Right now, the NYPD is the exception among major law enforcement agencies; it has no independent monitor, while departments in Chicago and Los Angeles have inspector generals, as do the FBI and CIA.First, it's time for real oversight at the NYPD. We need an independent inspector general who has the power to review police procedures, like stop-and-frisk, before they get out of control. Right now, the NYPD is the exception among major law enforcement agencies; it has no independent monitor, while departments in Chicago and Los Angeles have inspector generals, as do the FBI and CIA.
If a monitor were in place, we would never have gone from 100,000 stops per year, when Mayor Bloomberg took office, to 700,000 stops in 2011. An inspector general must have real teeth: subpoena powers to investigate, an independent budget that protects it from retaliation, and the power to mediate policies and tactics so that they're used correctly.If a monitor were in place, we would never have gone from 100,000 stops per year, when Mayor Bloomberg took office, to 700,000 stops in 2011. An inspector general must have real teeth: subpoena powers to investigate, an independent budget that protects it from retaliation, and the power to mediate policies and tactics so that they're used correctly.
Second, we need to pass the Racial Profiling Bill in the city council, which would finally exactly that unlawful act. We cannot continue to allow hundreds of thousands of young men to be stopped in the street for no other reason than the color of their skin. And contrary to Mayor Bloomberg's speeches, it would still allow the police to follow legitimate leads and descriptions to apprehend suspects.Second, we need to pass the Racial Profiling Bill in the city council, which would finally exactly that unlawful act. We cannot continue to allow hundreds of thousands of young men to be stopped in the street for no other reason than the color of their skin. And contrary to Mayor Bloomberg's speeches, it would still allow the police to follow legitimate leads and descriptions to apprehend suspects.
Finally, there needs to be new leadership at the helm of the NYPD – a leader who will work with community interests and foster better relations between law enforcement and residents. Don't believe anyone who says the only path to public safety comes at the expense of civil liberties and respect for the community. We can have both, but only with real reform – reforms that protect residents and police officers alike.Finally, there needs to be new leadership at the helm of the NYPD – a leader who will work with community interests and foster better relations between law enforcement and residents. Don't believe anyone who says the only path to public safety comes at the expense of civil liberties and respect for the community. We can have both, but only with real reform – reforms that protect residents and police officers alike.
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