New York, NY – The number of civilian complaints filed against NYPD police officers jumped 13 percent in 2006, the sixth straight year of increases, with stop and frisk complaints soaring, the Civilian Complaint Review Board said as it issued its year-end report.
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The agency acknowledged that last year's increase – 7,669 complaints, compared to 6,785 in 2005 – was due in part to the city's 311 system, which makes it easier to file complaints.
But it also noted that abuse of authority allegations – which include improper stops, frisks or searches – are up far more than any other type of allegation.
At the same time, the agency said that while the New York Police Department is imposing discipline more frequently in substantiated cases, the department is increasingly issuing the offending officer a set of instructions, the least severe disciplinary option.
Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne, the NYPD's top spokesman, said the use of instructions to discipline an officer does not suggest lenient treatment, but rather a punishment equal to the offending action. [amny]