The Metropolis Council has taken goal on the NYPD once more, proposing a legislation that might pressure cops to take blood alcohol exams in the event that they trigger an harm or demise after utilizing their weapon — regardless that it’s already a part of division process.
The invoice, launched this week by Councilman Yusef Salaam — one of many exonerated Central Park 5 and the pinnacle of the Committee on Public Security — drew swift outrage from police unions, who known as it pointless.
“We have a police staffing crisis, a violent recidivism crisis and dozens of other pressing public safety problems,” Police Benevolent Affiliation President Patrick Hendry mentioned in an announcement.
“But instead of fixing those issues, this bill tries to solve a problem that doesn’t exist.”
Alcohol testing after taking pictures incidents has been an NYPD coverage and observe for a few years and is already within the police division patrol information.
However Salaam argued the proposal to alter the town’s administrative code to incorporate the mandate would cease NYPD management from skirting the rules.
“Codifying this requirement into law, makes it clear that this practice is not discretionary,” he mentioned.
Salaam supplied no examples of cases wherein NYPD management had “altered or removed” the rule of thumb.
Hendry mentioned “there hasn’t been a single incident that would justify this bill.”
“It serves no purpose other than baselessly undermining public perception of police officers,” he added.
However Salaam claimed the invoice was not about “questioning the integrity” of the NYPD and added that “accountability is not a sign of distrust.”
His laws — launched at a Metropolis Council assembly Thursday — would even have Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch give you a particular timeframe for when the BAC check would should be taken following a taking pictures leading to harm or demise and with an inventory of attainable exemptions.
It’s unclear how a lot help the proposal has acquired.
The NYPD didn’t return a request for remark.
It comes after the Metropolis Council handed one other legislation including a burden on cops final yr.
The controversial “How Many Stops Act” — which lawmakers pushed by by overriding Mayor Eric Adams’ veto — requires cops to fill out paperwork for even passing encounters with New Yorkers. It went into impact in July.
The mandate, which went into impact in July, has already value taxpayers greater than $1.4 million in time beyond regulation in simply three months, NYPD brass testified at a Metropolis Council oversight listening to this week.
That’s even because the council has previously criticized the police division for time beyond regulation prices.
In March, Council Speaker Adrienne Adams blasted the NYPD amid estimates that time beyond regulation would hit $740 million this fiscal yr, the best within the final decade.
