Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) Urges Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bratton to End All Discriminatory Arrests and Summonses for Non-Violent, Low-Level Offenses

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), a leading voice for reform at the NYPD, released the following statement on the apparent police work stoppage and called on Mayor de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bratton to bring about a permanent end to all discriminatory arrests and summonses for non-violent low-level offenses that disproportionately target communities of color in New York City:

“The sharp drop in arrests and summonses for non-violent low-level offenses calls into question the effectiveness of broken windows—the hyper-aggressive policing tactics that routinely target low-income communities of color. But this apparent work slowdown, whether a short-term political tactic by the police unions or a subset of police officers, should be distinguished from the long-term systemic reform of the NYPD that New York City needs. Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner Bratton and the NYPD should permanently end all discriminatory arrests and summonses for low-level offenses that disproportionately target communities of color,” said Monifa Bandele, a spokeswoman for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR).

“Discriminatory and abusive policing make our city less safe. We want Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner Bratton, the NYPD and the police unions to understand that the best way to move forward as one city is to implement meaningful, lasting changes to policing - including timely and substantive consequences in cases of misconduct and excessive and deadly force,” said Bandele.