A new audio recording reveals a disturbing example of current NYPD practices, specifically the “stop and frisk” policy of stopping and searching pedestrians without warrants or probable cause. A 17-year-old named Alvin, who made the recording, explains in the video below that he had been repeatedly stopped and searched by the police for no apparent reason and so had decided to record the next incident. Upon being asked why they are stopping him, the officers on the recording explain that his offense is “looking back at us like that” and “being a fucking mutt.” They then threaten to slap him in the face and break his arm.
The full audio recording is available at The Nation.
The NYPD’s numbers report that the department stopped and frisked 684,330 people last year, which as the Wall Street Journal points out, was “14 percent more than in 2010 and about seven times the number in 2002.” City officials claim the program is effective in reducing crime and getting guns off the streets. However, the New York Civil Liberties Union disputes this, pointing out that less than 0.2 percent of the stops yielded any guns, and approximately 88 percent of the stops did not result in arrests or even citations.
One aspect of the stop and frisk policy, namely the “Operation Clean Halls” program, is ostensibly aimed at drug dealing in and around low-income apartment buildings. The tactics are now being challenged in court, with Assistant District Attorney Jeannette M. Rucker testifying that people are being arrested on trespass charges for being in or around buildings which they actually live in or where friends they’re visiting live.
The tactic also seems to facilitate arrests on marijuana charges. In 2011, there were approximately 50,000 arrests made in the city for minor marijuana possession. This is despite a New York state law, which since 1977 has essentially decriminalized possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana. Under this law, the offense is only punishable by small fines or up to 15 days in prison if it is the individual’s third such offense within a three-year period. A new lawsuit filed by the Legal Aid Society claims that people are being illegally arrested on minor marijuana charges, sometimes for “public display” of marijuana, which is a criminal offense carrying up to 90 days in prison. Attorneys suggest, however, that the “public display” often simply involves defendants in stop-and-frisk encounters being ordered by police to empty their pockets.
This seems to be not only an attempt to get around the decriminalization law, but also in violation of the recent directive from the city’s Police Commissioner criticizing such practices. Governor Cuomo also introduced legislation earlier this year to remove the “public display” loophole, but the proposed measure did not pass.
As marijuana possession is generally a private activity, which goes mostly undetected without intrusive practices by the police, the stop-and-frisk program is likely responsible for the bulk of these unnecessary arrests. The solution seems obvious: the city should simply abandon the stop-and-frisk program, thereby saving a great deal of time and money, not to mention sparing innocent New Yorkers needless harassment.
Sounds like the n.y.p.d needs to be put on a terrorist watch list.
The government ARE the terrorists, Ron, but since they hold the power, everyone else is labeled as such.
we need a free country again….it really isn`t free anymore
they should be arrested for arresting people….
People don,t understand there taking our rights away from us. I had this happen to me in the 70′s. If we want to smoke pot we should be aloud to do this. There is worst things out there then pot. A I think the people need to wake up an see this. Look at cig. aclohol ,food,water, an these power plant an I can keep going.
What should people do when they are more scared of the people who are suppose to serve and protect them then they are of criminals? I mean we can defend our self against a intruder or criminal or terrorist but if we defend our self against a police officer who is acting like a criminal or terrorist or trampling our rights we will be beat and locked up and they will call us the terrorist ! Does any one think a petition started at change.org would help it has sure helped in other situations
The answer is in the constitution & bill of rights. He has a huge lawsuit! But he needs to study how to win and how to quit being messed with! If u don’t stand up and challenge the constitution, you won’t win anything .
When I listened to the way alvin was treated in NY! I really get angry! i am a 14 and ahalf mo. viet nam war vet! I thought I was fighting for this country and the constitutional right of a supposed democracy!BS What I see everyday in america are people like Alvin beening treated like communist treat the people of their countries!Wake up America Big brother( goverment control) is here!
Most people have never heard of Terry v. Ohio, but it stated if the police officer believes there is “illegal activities afoot” they can stop and speak with you. However, they are not allowed to frisk you or make you empty your pockets unless you are under arrest. Next time anybody gets stopped and asked to empty their pockets, tell them per Terry v. Ohio they have no reason to believe you have any weapons on your person and walk away.
OMG-I hope these “policemen” are punished to the full extent of the law–I’m sick..
I liv n illinois and east st louis il just emplamented teens out on street wearing red or blue will be stopd n arrested for wearin gang colors its basicly marshel law n east st illinois
This is appalling! Bills of Rights Amendment IV: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated…” This must stop NOW.
@ james…. Since when has ur country ever been truely free everything anybody dose is under the unrelentless eye of the government… My suggestion. Move to canada were slightly more relaxed
What is happening is an outgrowth of a government that is controlled by the power-hungry banking elite. It is the centralized bank and their monopoly empowered cartel that is pulling the strings of government. Canada is controlled as well Amschel Rothschild quipped “give methe power to control a nations money supply and I care not who makes its laws.” The YouTube channel OneTruth4Life has more info.
This is a blatant violation of the Bill of Rights and most laws, never mind totally uncourteous. If this was ever done to me, my lawyers would be all over these ignorant cops taking shortcuts to protect the streets.
P.S. I am married to a retired police officer, and he would never do anything like this, so don’t stereotype police officers, or you will become as bad that these rogue cops are!
Lying NAZI Basterds, I was beaten and left for dead NYPD 12 strangers helped me to the Hospital to get 10 sticthes in my head and hands, I successfully sued and left USA….. I will explain…… N A Z I …. I do not use the word lightly, REAL NAZIS have the run of the country… IF YOU WANT PROOF HERE IT IS: U.S.Patent Office and the Library of Congress …. If you can read the entire Manifesto it will prove beyond a shadow of doubt nazis have taken over, Obama is trying but they are killers….. these two documents have to be spread far and wide….1) The Elkhorn Manifesto and 2) United States Patent Office – Patent Number 6630507……Ignorance is Patriotic * Truth is Treason ………………… I am in need of a Lawyer with Carbon Fiber Balls ! !http://www.thenation.com/article/170413/stopped-and-frisked-being-fking-mutt-video