There is an interesting investigation in Brooklyn where Internal Affairs is looking into allegations that Brooklyn police officers refused to take criminal complaints and downgraded crimes to lower crime statistics. It brings a new meaning to officers warning people not to become a statistic.
The focus of the investigation is the Bedford-Stuyvesant’s 81st Precinct where felonies were allegedly recorded as misdemeanors and officers were accused of refusing to take complaints from victims. The investigation is made all the more serious by the fact that some officers say that they were chastised for reporting crimes.
Officer Adrian Schoolcraft has reportedly stated that one precinct lieutenant was known as “The Shredder” because he often destroyed documents.
For the full story, click here.
LK,
Mentioned New Orleans and the suit for not allowing people to cross a bridge during “Hurricane Katrina”,this is about New Orleans and the actions of one of their officers.
“The current police chief is a convicted drug offender who got a pardon from Edwin Edwards, the former Louisiana governor who is serving time in federal prison for corruption convictions.”
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-taser_witt-web-jul19,0,5227036,full.story
Blouise – it absolutely happens in other areas of the country. I’m in Jersey City and had my car broken into. Called the police to file a report. They refused to do so unless I drove the car to the the station later that day. Told them I couldn’t because I had to go to work. They said that if it wasn’t important enough for me to bring the car to them, it’s obviously not important enough, and why should they care.
Here’s a story that has to do with a “REAL” crime. A child brought a toy lego gun to school!! The horror of it all!!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35222830/ns/local_news-new_york_ny/
I live in the 81st precinct. About two years ago, my friend was attacked on the street and placed in a headlock – he never touched the other guy. When police arrived, they said that the other man had insisted that he was attacked first, and “as a favor” they were refusing to write up a report, despite my friend’s insistence and several eyewitnesses present.
Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Moreover, the 81st precinct is hardly alone in this problem. Since the introduction of CompStat, there’s a lot of pressure on precinct commanders to lower crime, which filters down the hierarchy such that crimes are downgraded or go unreported.
This Village Voice article from 5 years ago explains better than I could: http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-10-25/news/these-stats-are-a-crime/
The newsworthy part isn’t that it’s happening, but that it’s being investigated.
Makes you want to move there until you are robbed, shot, mugged, broke into, trespassed upon, trespass of personality etc…Then you want to move…..
I wonder if this practice is widespread country-wise? It sounds like a good idea if a department is full of lazy cops … nobody has to do much and the citizens feel secure ’cause statistics show crime is low.
The NYC police have been playing games since Rudy’s days as Mayor. If they are not shooting an unarmed suspect 200 times, they are cooking the books. What are the odds that Internal Affairs sweeps this under the rug???
Tom
Sounds like the argument between the Texas Ranger and Maddie Ross in True Grit.
Does it matter where Tom Cheyney’s hung?
I was reminded of a conversation I had with a Chicago police officer a few months ago – she said her district hadn’t had a murder in years! There was no ‘book cooking’ going on. Rather it really is a quiet district, and they don’t have a hospital with a trauma unit in the district. Thus, on the rare occasions that someone gets shot or stabbed, they’re transported to a hospital in an adjacent district, and if they die there, it’s on the books of the other police district! Ah, statistics!
Seems like low crime statistics would be a threat to their jobs, or at least some of the newbies.
One would think they would up the stats not lower them.
I guess they did up the stats in one sense, if their action could be considered a crime.
In which case replacements will be needed once they are fired. 😉
Makes me wanna know more. Geese…..read the main article.