Police Practices and Civil Rights in New York City
Appendix A
Status of Task Force on Police/Community Relations Recommendations
On August 19, 1997, 10 days after the Louima incident, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani established the Task Force on Police/Community Relations. The task force began its factfinding process by convening a series of public forums that included both members of the community and members of the NYPD. Several thousand community residents were invited to these forums, and approximately 350 people attended in total.[1] The task force put forth 91 recommendations.
During its investigation, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights expected specific and detailed information from the NYPD that would have allowed the Commission to determine the extent to which the task force recommendations were being implemented, and with what impact. Regrettably, the information provided to the Commission lacked specificity with regard to scope, strategy, timeframe, cost, impact, etc.
For example, the task force recommended that the NYPD implement an aggressive affirmative action plan designed to create a police force more reflective of the City's population. The NYPD informed the Commission that the recommendation had been IMPLEMENTED. But such a conclusory statement does not allow for a careful evaluation and conclusion regarding the impact and/or effectiveness of the task force recommendation. A careful evaluation of the facts could have been conducted only if the NYPD had provided the Commission with such information as goals, timetables, positions targeted, outreach efforts, and rates of success. What follows is a reproduction of the information provided to the Commission by the NYPD regarding the status of the 91 task force recommendations.
|
Task Force Number |
|
|
|
1 |
The task force recommend that the police department build on the current Courtesy, Professional and Respect (CPR) Strategy |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
1A |
Institute a code of professional standards |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
1B |
Institutionalize CPR training outside the precinct (attach to In-Tac training) |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
1C |
Separate CPR Academies and Borough Conferences for supervisors |
PARTIALLY |
|
1D |
Rank-specific CPR evaluation surveys by an independent body |
NOT NYPD |
|
1E |
Increased CPR compliance testing |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2 |
The task force recommends the enhancement of Precinct Community Councils |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2A |
Mandated policy and procedural manual for Precinct Councils |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2B |
Monthly Precinct Council newsletter produced by DCCA |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2C |
Institute mandated quarterly meetings with all precinct commanders and Precinct Council Executive Board members |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2D |
All Precinct Councils submit copy of all monthly meeting minutes with cover memorandum from precinct commanding officer |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2E |
Precinct Councils mandated to establish a membership recruitment subcommittee to recruit a representation of community |
UNDER |
|
2F |
Establish Precinct Council funding |
NOT NYPD |
|
3 |
The task force recommends the enhancement of Youth Program Services |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
3A |
Increase the Youth Academy to 5,000 participants per year |
REJECTED |
|
3B |
Implement Police Youth Encounter workshops at schools and housing sites |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
3C |
See additional funding sources for GREAT |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
3D |
Develop a pilot program for recidivist youths in five precincts with highest rate of recidivism |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
3E |
Establish a Beacon School in the 70th Precinct |
NOT NYPD |
|
3F |
Launch a citywide public service campaign on rights and responsibilities |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
3G |
Human Rights Commission develop workshops and materials for youths on rights and responsibilities in interactions with police |
NOT NYPD |
|
4 |
The task force recommends expansion of patrol officer involvement in community service |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
4A |
Require all patrol and youth officers to participate in one community activity per month |
PARTIALLY |
|
4B |
Provide promotional credits for outstanding demonstration of CPR principles |
PARTIALLY |
|
5 |
The task force recommends implementation of a system for measuring police-community relations |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
5A |
NYPD design and implement a COMPSTAT-like strategy for CPR |
PARTIALLY |
|
6 |
The task force recommends implementation of a precinct-based, citizen-police information seminar series and citizen-police town hall dialogues |
PARTIALLY |
|
6A |
Develop and implement a citizen-police information seminar series facilitated by active patrol officers |
IN |
|
6B |
Develop and institute citizen-police town hall dialogues |
PARTIALLY |
|
7 |
The task force recommends the enhancement of NYPD's access to language interpreter services |
UNDER |
|
7A |
Increase funding and staffing of the precinct receptionist program (one receptionist per precinct) |
UNDER |
|
7B |
Increase use of Language Line |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
7C |
Reimbursement for tuition costs for foreign language education |
UNDER |
|
8 |
The task force recommends the reinvigoration of the Clergy Liaison program |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
8A |
Enhance training and operations of the Clergy Liaison program |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
8B |
Support the Adopt a Cop program |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
9 |
The task force recommends the enhancement of the status of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Community Affairs |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
9A |
Greater liaison between precincts and Community Affairs |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
9B |
Create an adequate budget for DCCA |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
9C |
Internal program development and evaluation team for DCCA |
REJECTED |
|
9D |
Change title of Community Affairs to Community Relations |
REJECTED |
|
10 |
The task force recommends implementation of a pilot Community Affairs Response Team (CART) |
PARTIALLY |
|
10A |
Develop and implement a CART pilot in a precinct subject to community unrest |
PARTIALLY |
|
11 |
The task force recommends implementation of an annual Civilian Recognition Ceremony |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
11A |
The task force recommends implementation of an annual Civilian Recognition Ceremony to be merged with the CPR recognition ceremony |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
1 |
The task force recommends implementation of public-private advertising initiative similar to the recent effort in New Orleans |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2 |
The task force supports the continuation of the department's entrance examination tutoring efforts |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
3 |
The task force recommends the enhancement of the NYPD Cadet Corps |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
4 |
The task force recommends to the mayor the development of a comprehensive employment policy with the goal of ensuring that the NYPD's makeup reflects the racial diversity of the city. This policy should include a prospective residency requirement for all NYPD employees hired after the effective date of the plan |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
5 |
The task force recommends that the NYPD implement an aggressive affirmative action plan designed to create a police force more reflective of the city's population |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
1 |
The task force recommends the enhancement of cultural diversity training at the Police Academy |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
1A |
The department should create a proactive curriculum that exposes students to the diverse and changing natures of the city's communities |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
1B |
Creation and use of video vignettes that explore each ethnic group |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2 |
The task force supports the efforts of the Policing Institute and the continued participation of the NYPD in this program |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
3 |
The task force recommends the enhancement of the field training component of the Police Academy |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
3A |
Expansion of field training from 3 to 6 months |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
3B |
Recruits should be required to participate in community-based activities while on duty |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
3C |
Require recruits to participate in a daylong field training program on Riker s Island with the Department of Correction |
REJECTED |
|
4 |
The task force recommends the enhancement of cultural diversity training at borough and precinct orientation |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
4A |
Community Affairs Officers create and maintain precinct specific resource books |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
4B |
Create and utilize precinct-specific language card memo book inserts |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
5 |
The task force recommends the enhancement of in-service cultural diversity training |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
5A |
Create an in-service diversity skills workshop: 6-month weekly class series that would be given to approximately 30 officers in every precinct, PSA, and district |
PARTIALLY |
|
6 |
The task force recommends the enhancement of cultural diversity training in the Leadership and Executive Development programs |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
6A |
Create a highly selective Sergeant's Leadership Institute |
REJECTED |
|
6B |
Mandate participation in diversity training courses for all department executives |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
6C |
Award points in the promotion process for advanced education and specialized training |
PARTIALLY |
|
7 |
The task force recommends the creation of a Board of Visitors for the New York Police Academy to act as advisors to the mayor and the police commissioner |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
8 |
The task force recommends whatever subsequent body replaces it investigate the following ideas: 1. Replace all of the academic course given at the Police Academy with equivalent credit bearing courses at accredited colleges
2. Increase the minimum education requirement for acceptance into the Police Academy to a bachelor s degree from an accredited college or university 3. Create model training precincts 4. Field training or internship for recruits at victim services agencies, hospital emergency rooms,
child welfare and protective agencies |
NOT NYPD |
|
1 |
The task force recommends the city increase the number of custodians assigned to its precincts to the extent that the overall budget consideration permit |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2 |
The task force recommends the creation of a career path program for patrol officers with the following features and incentives: |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2A |
Create community patrol specialists in each precinct, PSA and district |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2B |
Precinct commanders would recommend officers for community patrol specialists |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
2C |
The police department should develop a means of community input regarding an officer's performance |
PARTIALLY |
|
3 |
In order to attract the best and brightest to the NYPD and thus to improve police-community relations, the city should recognize that the current force is underpaid and a significant increase in wages is needed to adequately compensate police officers |
NOT NYPD |
|
4 |
The task force recommend the elimination of the 48-hour rule |
PARTIALLY |
|
5 |
The task force recommends the creation of an independent auditor/monitor and evaluate the civilian compliant process administered by the CCRB and the NYPD |
NOT NYPD |
|
5A |
Create a screening body to identify the less serious complaints and refer them without a full investigation for resolution by mediation or conciliation |
NOT NYPD |
|
5B |
Form a permanent auditor-monitor board, independent of the police department to monitor and evaluate the CCRB investigation process and the police department's disciplinary process and publicly report its findings |
NOT NYPD |
|
5C |
Designate senior NYPD official and CCRB member to act as liaisons between their respective agencies and the auditor-monitor |
NOT NYPD |
|
6 |
The task force supports the enactment of City Council Intro. 250 |
NOT NYPD |
|
7 |
The task force endorses the view that public safety and positive police-community relations compel leaving police disciplinary matters solely in the hands of the police commissioner, and that the police commissioner's disciplinary determination be accorded great deference |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
8 |
The task force acknowledges the mayor's push to enhance CCRB s operations and output, but recommends that its budget be further increased commensurate with NYPD staffing increases |
NOT NYPD |
|
8A |
The CCRB must hold public town hall meetings no less than five times a year in each borough at least once per year |
NOT NYPD |
|
8B |
The CCRB must issue its 6-month report within 45 days of the closing period |
NOT NYPD |
|
8C |
CCRB should issue reports on patterns and practice of police abuse |
NOT NYPD |
|
8D |
Successor body should examine the effectiveness of the Department Advocate s Office in prosecuting police officers |
NOT NYPD |
|
8E |
The NYPD and CCRB should compile a broad range of statistics on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
9 |
The task force recommends a comprehensive review of psychological testing practices used by the NYPD |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
9A |
Comprehensive review of the pre-employment psychological screening protocol |
IMPLEMENTED |
|
9B |
Review should examine the Psychological Services Unit for issues regarding confidentiality, service utilization, quality of service delivery, size and diversity of staff |
IMPLEMENTED |