FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:

Marbre Stahly-Butts,  Tel: 909 289 1500;

Email:MStahly-Butts@populardemocracy.org
 

NYPD IG Report is Small Victory for Communities of Color; Much More is Needed for Real Progress  

Brooklyn, NY 01.12.2015  – A new report by the New York Police Department’s Inspector General found patterns of misconduct, preference for excessive force over communication, and systemic inconsistencies in the use of force. In response, Marbre Stahly-Butts, Soros Justice Fellow at the Center for Popular Democracy (CPD) issued the following statement:  

“Communities United for Police Reform, of which we are a member, worked tirelessly to pass legislation through City Council to ensure the creation of the Inspector General’s Office and we welcome the release of the Office’s first report. The report cements what many New Yorkers already knew: The culture of excessive and abusive policing is widespread, and we need binding, systematic changes before communities of color and immigrants can feel safe and protected by the NYPD.  

“The NYPD must come to terms with the reality that its use of force practices are disproportionately visited on communities of color, who have been tormented by excessive police practices for too long. We hope this realization will inspire NYPD leaders to engage in a process of community based reform and transformation, so that together we can slowly start to rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement and end militarized and abusive policing practices.  

“In cities across the country, millions of dollars are being spent on aggressive and discriminatory policing policies that target black, brown and immigrant communities as well as other vulnerable populations. These policies lead to mass incarceration, deportation, unfair harassment and dehumanization. Law enforcement spending often outpaces investment in health, education, housing and other programs. So while we welcome the release of this report, we recognize the path to justice and community driven policing for our communities is long. But key to meaningful reform are reports such as this, which shine a light on discriminatory and abusive practices and force us to come to terms with the reality of policing in this city and country. As our work begins to bear fruit, CPD and our partners across the country are monitoring how police departments and local governments respond. Our organizing is intensifying, and we will not stop until our communities are safe from state-sanctioned violence and feel that justice has been served.”  

In New York City, CPD has worked as part of Communities United for Police Reform on its groundbreaking organizing to end unfair and ineffective policing practices. That work was instrumental in passing the Community Safety Act, which mandated the appointment of an Inspector General at the NYPD for the first time.