Priorities for the New NYPD Inspector General: Promoting Safety, Dignity and Rights for all New Yorkers

May 28, 2014 - In 2012, community-based, legal, policy advocacy groups and researchers in New York City came together in an unprecedented multi-strategy effort to end discriminatory and abusive policing in New York City. Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), the campaign around which these groups coalesced, helped to change the local conversation on public safety, increased the knowledge and practice of New Yorkers in observing and documenting police misconduct, and led the movement to enact the Community Safety Act – two laws promoting increased accountability and transparency of the New York Police Department (NYPD) to all New Yorkers.

Coordinating a coalition of over 100 organizations, CPR’s Community Safety Act campaign partnered with New York City Council members to support efforts that would establish an enforceable ban on discriminatory profiling by the NYPD and create an accountable oversight mechanism for NYPD policies and practices. In the summer of 2013, the City Council voted to override then-Mayor Bloomberg’s veto of the Community Safety Act bills. The establishment of an NYPD Inspector General (IG) through Local Law 70 of 2013, was one concrete outcome of these efforts.

The first-ever NYPD Inspector General Philip Eure will assume his role in late May 2014. The NYPD Inspector General’s responsibilities include investigations, reviews and audits of systemic NYPD issues, resulting in recommendations to improve the NYPD’s policies, programs, practices, and operations – with the goal of enhancing the department’s effectiveness, improving public safety and protecting the rights of all New Yorkers. Similar to other inspectors general for New York City agencies, the NYPD Inspector General is situated within New York City’s Department of Investigations (DOI). This report outlines CPR’s recommendations for nine areas that the NYPD Inspector General should consider for investigation, review, study and audit, in order to issue findings and recommendations that will improve public safety and protect the rights of all New Yorkers. The first six represent areas that should be considered priorities in the first year of the Inspector General’s tenure.