Photos: YouTube Screenshots
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) found that police misconduct cases jumped 51% in 2023 to their highest level since 2012. In 2023, 5,604 complaints were filed with the CCRB compared to 3,700 in 2022. Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) issued the following statement from CPR spokesperson Jose Lopez, Co-Director of Make the Road NY.
“The drastic spike in complaints against the NYPD confirms what communities already know – policing under Mayor Adams is dangerous and out of control, making New Yorkers less safe every day. Instead of swiftly firing officers who killed Kawaski Trawick and others, Mayor Adams shields abusive officers and the NYPD as a whole from meaningful discipline and accountability. Police violence incidents are at their highest level since 2012, abusive stop-and-frisks are surging, and Black, Latinx and other communities are hurting from the mayor’s budget cuts to essential services and programs. Meanwhile, it seems the mayor cares more about expanding the outsized and illegitimate power and budget of the NYPD than he does addressing the actual needs of New Yorkers. Instead of giving the NYPD preferential treatment, Mayor Adams should fire the cops who killed Kawaski Trawick, sign the common-sense How Many Stops Act into law to prevent more abusive stops, and re-allocate public funds from NYPD to libraries, housing supports, mental health and other city resources that truly help keep New Yorkers and new immigrants safe and healthy.”
On Thursday, Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) also spoke out on “Mayor Adams’ announcement that funding will be restored to the NYPD to add another police academy class of 600 new recruits, despite budget cuts impacting nearly every other city agency.”
Regarding this announcement by Adams, CPR spokesperson Divad Durant, of the Justice Committee released this statement:
“In the midst of dangerous budget cuts to housing, education, and mental health care, this restoration is just the most recent and egregious example of NYPD budget exceptionalism – and it’s also an example of Mayor Adams’ bad management. Instead of housing New Yorkers, ensuring the well-being of our youth and meeting the needs of those experiencing mental health crises, the mayor is increasing money for the policing of our communities. Every dollar that goes to the NYPD strips care and services from New York’s most vulnerable, and dangerously criminalizes New Yorkers. The NYPD’s outrageous budget shouldn’t be shielded – the academy class should be cut as proposed so that the city can pay for non-police services and programs that create real safety for New Yorkers.”
About Communities United for Police Reform
Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) is an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, and to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and reduces reliance on policing. CPR runs coalitions of over 200 local, statewide and national organizations, bringing together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change. The partners in this campaign come from all 5 boroughs, from all walks of life and represent many of those most unfairly targeted by the NYPD.
