NYPD Stop-and-Frisk Policy Challenged by Civil Rights Group

New York, NYA civil rights group filed a lawsuit on May 7, 2008, challenging the stop-and-frisk policy that is employed by the NYPD. The stop-and-frisk policy has been used throughout the years to stop people for questioning. It is believed that hundreds of thousands per year are stopped through this practice when the police believe there is a need to transport that person to the precinct office.

The lawsuit filed by the New York Civil Liberties Union lists their sole plaintiff as Leonardo Blair. Blair is a Jamaican national and a freelance reporter for the New York Post. The lawsuit says that he was stopped by NYPD officers as he was walking from his Bronx home to his car in November 2007.

When Blair was taken to the police station, he says that the officers acted surprised when they found he was not from the projects and that he had a master's degree that he acquired from Columbia University. This information allegedly surprised them so much because Blair is black.

The lawsuit alleges that millions have been stopped by police in the past two years under the practice. The suit says that more than 50% of those who have been stopped were black, even though blacks only make up a quarter of New York City's population.

The stop-and-frisk practice involves an officer being able to stop and frisk an individual that they believe has been involved in a crime. The lawsuit is asking that the practice be considered unconstitutional. It is also asking that Blair be compensated in the form of punitive damages for what he had to go through.

Blair had been handcuffed and taken to the precinct house. All he was doing was walking to his car. It has been alleged that the NYPD has done the same to thousands of innocent black New Yorkers for simply walking down the street. Blair was released shortly after he informed the officers that he was a reporter for the Post. He had been issued two summonses that claimed he disobeyed a lawful order and had made unreasonable noise. Both of these were dismissed.

The police department has said that who they stop and frisk is consistent with the descriptions that are given to them by the victims of violent crimes. The police department has also said an independent study backs up their claims that the stops were related to crime and not race.

As for Blair, the arrest was quite troublesome for him because he is an immigrant. Even an unfounded arrest has to be reported to immigration and must be included on visa applications.

Furthermore, the lawsuit says that 90% of those stopped in the years 2006 and 2007 were not engaging in illegal activity. None of those people were issued summonses or arrested. However, somewhere between 30% and 40% of those were stopped and frisked.

By: Ginger Gillenwater