NYC City Council members propose police
oversight
June 14, 2012
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Council members on Wednesday introduced legislation that would create an inspector general position to oversee the New York Police Department, amid criticism that the department's stop-and-frisk policy is out of control.
Council members Brad Lander and Jumaane Williams, who has
been a vocal critic of the NYPD, said the need for the position is underscored
by concerns about the rising number of people stopped, questioned and frisked.
Last year, more than 680,000 people were stopped, mostly
black and Hispanic men, up from about 160,000 in 2003. About half are frisked,
and only about 10 percent are arrested.
Williams and Lander, as well as the New York Civil Liberties
Union and other activists, say the policy unfairly targets minorities.
The inspector general would create independent oversight of
the nation's largest department, and would have the power to conduct
investigations and review department policies. The candidate would also make
regular reports to city officials, and recommend corrective action.
Currently, the city's police watchdog agency, the Civilian
Complaint Review Board, investigates and prosecutes misconduct claims, but the
police commissioner has the final say on whether an officer is disciplined.
Criminal allegations are handled by the district attorney offices.
In arguing for the inspector general position, Williams also
noted reports by The Associated Press on NYPD surveillance of some Muslims, and
allegations of manipulation of crime statistics.
Under the proposed legislation, a candidate would be
recommended and appointed by the city's public safety and civil rights
committees. The bill must have 34 of the possible 51 votes plus the support of
the City Council Speaker to make it veto-proof.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he believes an inspector
general is unnecessary and he doubted the City Council has authority to create
the position. He said the police should be focusing on getting "bad
guys" and guns off the street.
"This is the most regulated department in the entire
city," Bloomberg said. "You have two U.S. attorneys, you have five
district attorneys, you have the Civilian Complaint Review Board. I think we've
got enough supervision and oversight."
Speaker Christine Quinn, a likely mayoral candidate, has
been critical of the stop-and-frisk policy. She said at a press conference
Wednesday that the policy needs to be changed, but that she couldn't comment on
the proposed legislation until she looks at it more closely.
Similar legislation proposed by state lawmakers has stalled
in Albany.
Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, who has
also said the department does not need more oversight, have defended the
stop-and frisk policy as a life-saving, crime-fighting tool that has helped
make the city safe. But Bloomberg acknowledged last weekend the program needed
to be "mended but not ended."
In mid-May, Kelly announced changes in officer training and
supervision, and reiterated police policy that prohibits racial profiling.
The NYPD has more than 35,000 officers; the second-largest
police department is Chicago with about 13,000.