NYPD should stop making traffic stops, attorney general says
AG Letitia James argued that traffic stops for minor infractions sometimes end in violence
Sep 26, 2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...4ab7e6-ff79-11ea-b0e4-350e4e60cc91_story.html
NEW YORK — New York's attorney general on Friday recommended the New York Police Department get out of the business of routine traffic enforcement, a radical change she said would prevent encounters like one last year in the Bronx that escalated quickly and ended with an officer fatally shooting a motorist.
Attorney General Letitia James, who acts as a special prosecutor appointed to investigate certain police killings, argued that traffic stops for minor infractions often end in violence and that Allan Feliz's death last October after he was pulled over for a seat belt violation “further underscores the need for this change.”
In this Aug. 6, 2020 file photo, New York State Attorney General Letitia James addresses the media during a news conference in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
James’ office concluded that the NYPD's use of deadly force was justified but that the sequence of events leading to Feliz's death would never have happened if police hadn't stopped him in the first place. Police further heightened tensions by attempting to arrest Feliz on outstanding warrants for low-level offenses such as spitting, littering and disorderly conduct, James' office said.
Must been listnin in on Berkeley.
Berkeley moves forward with police-free traffic stops
The city will now work towards forming a separate traffic department that will use unarmed city workers
Jul 15, 2020
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New York Troopers Union Sues NYC Over Criminalization of Restraint Techniques
The union representing New York state troopers filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the legality of New York City codes that criminalize certain restraint techniques used by State Police and other law enforcement agencies.
https://www.newsbreak.com/new-york/...-over-criminalization-of-restraint-techniques
The changes adopted by the New York City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio were intended to largely influence physical confrontations between civilians and the New York Police Department. They codes make it a misdemeanor crime for a police officer to use any neck restraints or to put their knees on the back or stomach of a person.
State Police leaders issued a directive to the agency's members last month cautioning them about the city's ordinances.
Ronald Pierone, vice president of the union representing State Police investigators, told the Times Union last month the codes would conflict with years of training and create more dangerous situations if a person who is combative cannot be restrained and their behavior escalates to the point the trooper may need to use a Taser, baton, pepper spray or even deadly force if their life becomes endangered.
"You have guys down there that have made hundreds of arrests and some of the arrests go simple, no issues," Pierone said. "It’s going to be a difficult process to tell yourself, 'Well, I’m in one of the five boroughs of New York City and I can’t do that now.'"
The roughly five restraints banned by New York City — including sitting, standing or kneeling on a person's back or chest — are considered a proper restraint by other police agencies across the state and authorized under state law. Police consider the methods "non-violent restraining techniques" that they said safely subdue people who are combative with the least amount of force.
AG Letitia James argued that traffic stops for minor infractions sometimes end in violence
Sep 26, 2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...4ab7e6-ff79-11ea-b0e4-350e4e60cc91_story.html
NEW YORK — New York's attorney general on Friday recommended the New York Police Department get out of the business of routine traffic enforcement, a radical change she said would prevent encounters like one last year in the Bronx that escalated quickly and ended with an officer fatally shooting a motorist.
Attorney General Letitia James, who acts as a special prosecutor appointed to investigate certain police killings, argued that traffic stops for minor infractions often end in violence and that Allan Feliz's death last October after he was pulled over for a seat belt violation “further underscores the need for this change.”
In this Aug. 6, 2020 file photo, New York State Attorney General Letitia James addresses the media during a news conference in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
James’ office concluded that the NYPD's use of deadly force was justified but that the sequence of events leading to Feliz's death would never have happened if police hadn't stopped him in the first place. Police further heightened tensions by attempting to arrest Feliz on outstanding warrants for low-level offenses such as spitting, littering and disorderly conduct, James' office said.
Must been listnin in on Berkeley.
Berkeley moves forward with police-free traffic stops
The city will now work towards forming a separate traffic department that will use unarmed city workers
Jul 15, 2020
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York Troopers Union Sues NYC Over Criminalization of Restraint Techniques
The union representing New York state troopers filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the legality of New York City codes that criminalize certain restraint techniques used by State Police and other law enforcement agencies.
https://www.newsbreak.com/new-york/...-over-criminalization-of-restraint-techniques
The changes adopted by the New York City Council and Mayor Bill de Blasio were intended to largely influence physical confrontations between civilians and the New York Police Department. They codes make it a misdemeanor crime for a police officer to use any neck restraints or to put their knees on the back or stomach of a person.
State Police leaders issued a directive to the agency's members last month cautioning them about the city's ordinances.
Ronald Pierone, vice president of the union representing State Police investigators, told the Times Union last month the codes would conflict with years of training and create more dangerous situations if a person who is combative cannot be restrained and their behavior escalates to the point the trooper may need to use a Taser, baton, pepper spray or even deadly force if their life becomes endangered.
"You have guys down there that have made hundreds of arrests and some of the arrests go simple, no issues," Pierone said. "It’s going to be a difficult process to tell yourself, 'Well, I’m in one of the five boroughs of New York City and I can’t do that now.'"
The roughly five restraints banned by New York City — including sitting, standing or kneeling on a person's back or chest — are considered a proper restraint by other police agencies across the state and authorized under state law. Police consider the methods "non-violent restraining techniques" that they said safely subdue people who are combative with the least amount of force.
