CPR Responds to Announced NYPD “Neighborhood Policing” Plan

“We appreciate the de Blasio administration’s expressed desire to change its approach to policing, but Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton's announcement today raises more questions than it answers. The mayor pointed to a new "neighborhood policing" approach as moving away from being ‘top-down’ and towards a more ‘grassroots’ oriented approach, yet communities and so many of the groups that devote themselves to uplifting them have not been meaningfully engaged in the development of this plan. In what was unveiled, the mechanisms for how communities engage in development, implementation and evaluation in a significant way is unclear. Policing experts from across the country have consistently elevated the importance of developing community policing plans with communities so that they can be collaboratively implemented for success, but we don't see that with these plans yet.

“Unfortunately, the lack of meaningful community engagement in the development of the plan shows because so many community concerns with policing went unaddressed in today's announcement. The source of communities' mistrust and concerns are not simply about the lack of consistent, interpersonal relationships with individual police officers, but more so about NYPD tactics and policies that are discriminatory and abusive and a lack of accountability for that mistreatment. The police department needs to be accountable in a real way with a zero-tolerance policy and practice for discriminatory policing and brutality, to end abusive treatment that is still happening to New Yorkers in neighborhoods across the city.

“All communities want to be safe and don't desire to have negative relationships with police, but core issues must be addressed – and not glossed over – in order to avoid that reality. Until Commissioner Bratton and Mayor de Blasio are willing to do that, rolling out plans and websites looks only like symbolic window dressing that is more akin to the NYPD's public relations campaign of ‘Courtesy, Professionalism and Respect’ from years past.”

###
 

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.

Learn more: http://changethenypd.org/
Follow CPR on Twitter: @Changethenypd
Like CPR on Facebook: Facebook.com/Changethenypd