Nearly 25% of NYPD stops made by revamped anti-crime team were unlawful: federal monitor
A new report by the federal monitor of the New York Police Department (NYPD) has revealed that nearly 24% of stops, frisks, and searches made by the department’s revamped Neighborhood Safety Teams (NST) during the second quarter of 2022 were unlawful. The report analyzed 184 encounters made by the anti-crime unit over a three-month span and found 45 did not have reasonable cause. The monitor, Mylan Denerstein, criticized the NST officers’ “unsatisfactory level of compliance” and raised concerns about poor oversight from the department’s supervisors, saying none of the stops had raised any eyebrows. The NSTs were launched by Mayor Eric Adams to fight against gun violence, but the report has shown that the squads provided questionable reasons for making the stops, such as suspicions based on anonymous tips. The report also highlighted discrepancies between the officers’ reports and what was caught on body-worn cameras.
FAQs
Who conducted the report on the NYPD’s Neighborhood Safety Teams?
The report was conducted by the police department’s federal monitor, Mylan Denerstein.
What percentage of stops were found to be unlawful?
Nearly 24% of stops, frisks and searches made by the NYPD’s revamped Neighborhood Safety Teams over a three-month span last year were found to be unlawful.
What reasons were cited for the unlawful stops?
The NST officers provided questionable reasons for making the stops, such as suspicions based on anonymous tips. Other reasons included that the civilian was stopped because they looked back at the cops or walked in a different direction when passing them, or that officers had spotted bulges on a person without providing other details.
What was the reason behind the launch of the Neighborhood Safety Teams?
The squads were launched by Mayor Eric Adams as a key initiative to crack down on gun violence.
What did the report say about oversight of the anti-crime unit?
The report raised concerns about poor oversight from the department’s supervisors, saying none of the stops had raised any eyebrows.
What was the response from the NYPD?
The NYPD spokesperson said that while the department is reviewing the report, they disagreed with the monitor’s conclusions about some of the encounters audited. They stated that the NSTs engage with the public lawfully and constitutionally and have been instrumental in the reduction of shootings and homicides.
What was the response from City Hall?
The spokesperson from City Hall said that the Adams administration has “serious concerns with the methodology used” in the report, but did not elaborate further. They emphasized that unconstitutional stops are unacceptable and that they will strive to do better for New Yorkers every day.
A Federal Monitor reports that around 25% of the NYPD’s stop made by the revamped anti-crime team were illegal.
A new report from the federal monitor overseeing the New York Police Department (NYPD) has revealed that almost a quarter of stops, frisks, and searches conducted by the department’s revamped anti-crime unit between April and June 2022 were carried out unlawfully. The audit of the 184 encounters made by the Neighborhood Safety Teams (NST) found that 45 had no reasonable cause. The report also criticised the units’ oversight, saying that none of the stops made raised eyebrows amongst supervisors. The NST squads were introduced last year by Mayor Eric Adams to tackle gun violence and are seen as a reboot of the NYPD’s controversial anti-crime unit.