CPR Statement re Court Monitor’s Stop-and-Frisk Report

In response to the second report filed by the court-appointed monitor overseeing reforms to the NYPD’s unconstitutional stop-and-frisk practices, Communities United for Police Reform released the following statement from Alyssa Aguilera, Co-Executive Director of VOCAL-NY.

New York

“This is the second report where the court monitor is raising serious concerns about stop-and-frisks going unrecorded and being improperly documented. The fact that important changes are not being properly implemented by the department and enforced by supervising officers is unsurprising but of significant concern to impacted communities, given the NYPD's long history of insufficient accountability and transparency. Based on the NYPD's own audit that documentation of a significant percentage of stops do not reflect constitutional standards being followed for stops, frisks and searches, there are serious concerns about the continued unconstitutionality of many stops taking place that are and are not reported.

“This report reinforces the notion that declines in the overall number of reported stops do not equate to reform. Black and Latino New Yorkers remain the highly disproportionate target of stops, with the vast majority of stops still not resulting in summons or arrest. Real reform requires an end to unconstitutional stops, systemic change at the NYPD that prioritizes accountability, and providing impacted communities with a meaningful role in reforms that can end stop-and-frisk abuses. This report only further demonstrates the need for legislative reforms of the Right to Know Act, which would advance accountability and transparency in police encounters including and beyond stop-and-frisk.”

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About Communities United for Police Reform: Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) is an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, and to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and policing practices based on cooperation and respect– not discriminatory targeting and harassment. CPR brings together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change. The partners in this campaign come from all 5 boroughs, from all walks of life and represent many of those unfairly targeted the most by the NYPD. CPR is fighting for reforms that will promote community safety while ensuring that the NYPD protects and serves all New Yorkers.

Topics: Stop-and-Frisk