New York, NY - Complaints Against The NYPD Spike But Police Punish Fewer Officers

New York, NY - As the number of complaints made against the police department reaches record levels, police officials are imposing harsh punishment on fewer officers, Civilian Complaint Review Board data shows.

The board received 6,796 complaints in 2005, an increase of 600 from the prior year, according to the board's status report. The number of substantiated cases against police officers, however, dropped to 260 from 399 in 2004. Police and board members have consistently said the rising number of complaints is in part a product of citizens' ability to make complaints through 311, a feature started by the city in March 2003.

Of the substantiated cases in 2005, the police department chose to let off 199 officers, or 59% of the cases, with a verbal warning or instructions. In 2004, the department let off 108 officers with a warning or instructions, or about 28% of the cases.
A spokesman for the police department, Deputy Chief Michael Collins, said the change was attributed to a drop in the number of substantiated cases that required stronger punishment. "The vast majority of cases are the type of case that should be handled at the precinct level," he said.

Also did the board report, that the number of abuse of power accusations has increased at an even faster rate than the number of complaints in general. Between 2001 and 2005, the number of allegations that a police officer improperly questioned or stopped a civilian has risen 462%. Chief Collins said only 78 cases were substantiated over the five years.