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POLICE DEADLY FORCE IN NEW YORK CITY - SOME IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICE AND COMMUNITY ACTION

NCJ Number
53594
Author(s)
J J FYFE
Date Published
Unknown
Length
15 pages
Annotation
CITING POLICY CHANGES AND OTHER APPROACHES USED BY THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, THIS REPORT DISCUSSES MEASURES TO REDUCE POLICE USE OF DEADLY FORCE WHICH DISPORPORTIONATELY AFFECT MINORITIES AND YOUTH.
Abstract
IN 1972, THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT PROMULGATED GUIDELINES WHICH EMPHASIZED THE VALUE OF LIFE AND DECLARED THAT POLICE REVOLVERS COULD BE USED ONLY FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION AGAINST PERSONS FELONIOUSLY ATTACKING AN OFFICER OR OTHERS AT CLOSE RANGE, PROVIDED FOR STRINGENT INVESTIGATORY AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOLLOWING THE FIRING OF A GUN ON DUTY, AND ESTABLISHED A TOP LEVEL REVIEW BOARD TO CONSIDER ALL POLICE FIREARM DISCHARGES. AS A RESULT, THE DEPARTMENT REALIZED A DROP IN THE NUMBER OF GUNS FIRED PER WEEK FROM 18.4 TO 12.9 AND A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF PERSONS SHOT BY POLICE FROM 3.9 TO 2.3 PER WEEK. THE NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICERS RECEIVING INJURIES DURING ONDUTY VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS ALSO DROPPED DRAMATICALLY. THE DEPARTMENT EXAMINED THE BENEFITS OF OPERATIONAL PRACTICES IN THE AREAS OF NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT, DEPLOYMENT PATTERN USE INVOLVING PERSONNEL IN HIGHLY SENSITIVE WORK, AND DECOYING AND STAKE-OUT OPERATIONS IN RELATION TO DANGEROUSNESS, AND REVIEWED ITS POLICY ON USING QUANTITY OF ARRESTS MADE AS A BASIS FOR REWARDING OFFICERS. IN ADDITION, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT DEPARTMENTS RESEARCH VARIOUS JOBS TO ESTABLISH DEGREES OF DANGEROUSNESS AND THEN DEVELOP TRAINING TACTICS, INTELLIGENCE GATHERING TECHNIQUES, AND APPROACHES TO THE CRIME SCENE WHICH MIGHT REDUCE CHANCES FOR VIOLENCE. IT IS ALSO URGED THAT POLICE BE EQUIPPED WITH WEAPONS WHICH COULD STOP, BUT NOT KILL, ASSAILANTS. (DAG)