City Council Looks at Reforming Stop and Frisk

The City Council considered a set of reforms targeting the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy today, including appointing an inspector general to monitor the police department, reports CBS.

The Mayor’s Office strongly objects to the bills and is arguing that they are unconstitutional. Michael Best, counselor to the Mayor, says stop-and-frisk is critical to fighting crime.

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly is also combating the bill, reports Capital New York.

Councilman Jumaane Williams, whose District 45 covers parts of our neighborhood, is an outspoken critic of stop-and-frisk and a sponsor of all four bills being considered. From CBS:

“It is long past time to address the disparate ways that this city is being policed,” he said, saying they have led to a police force that acts and is perceived differently in wealthy white neighborhoods and poor minority ones. “It is truly a tale of two cities.”

Williams says that the Mayor’s administration is “just throwing tantrums.”

The Nation recently released a powerful video about stop-and-frisk. The video focuses on a Harlem teenager who was stopped by police, threatened with violence and told he was under arrest for being a “mutt.” Be warned that the following video contains obscene language.

In our area, we’ve seen a number of statistics on stop and frisk: where they’re happening, how many have resulted in guns being found, and at least one victim’s family has said publicly that they’re in favor of the practice.