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Bill Bratton attempts to clarify remarks on recruitment of black police officers Bill Bratton attempts to clarify remarks on recruitment of black police officers
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New York City police commissioner William Bratton on Wednesday attempted to clarify controversial remarks he made about the recruitment of African American police officers.New York City police commissioner William Bratton on Wednesday attempted to clarify controversial remarks he made about the recruitment of African American police officers.
Bratton claimed his remarks to the Guardian had been taken out of context in a news story the paper published based on a two-part feature on the New York police department – but that had brought attention to what he said was the improving record of the NYPD in hiring black recruits.Bratton claimed his remarks to the Guardian had been taken out of context in a news story the paper published based on a two-part feature on the New York police department – but that had brought attention to what he said was the improving record of the NYPD in hiring black recruits.
“The quotes are accurate, but the context in which they’re presented gives the quote a totally different context,” Bratton said at a press conference.“The quotes are accurate, but the context in which they’re presented gives the quote a totally different context,” Bratton said at a press conference.
Bratton said that when he had raised the “unfortunate consequences” of an explosion in stop-and-frisk tactics as one of the factors behind a difficulty in recruiting African American officers, he had meant that being the subject of such stops could discourage black people from applying.Bratton said that when he had raised the “unfortunate consequences” of an explosion in stop-and-frisk tactics as one of the factors behind a difficulty in recruiting African American officers, he had meant that being the subject of such stops could discourage black people from applying.
“Stop, question and frisk is not preventing people from coming on the job,” Bratton said on Wednesday. “It’s not something that prohibits them. What it might do, however, because of a negative interaction with a New York City police officer – why would they want to become a New York City cop when they feel that they’ve been inappropriately dealt with in stop, question and frisk?”“Stop, question and frisk is not preventing people from coming on the job,” Bratton said on Wednesday. “It’s not something that prohibits them. What it might do, however, because of a negative interaction with a New York City police officer – why would they want to become a New York City cop when they feel that they’ve been inappropriately dealt with in stop, question and frisk?”
In an interview on 20 May for the wide-ranging, two-part feature series on his police force that was published this week, Bratton had said: “We have a significant population gap among African American males because so many of them have spent time in jail and, as such, we can’t hire them.”In an interview on 20 May for the wide-ranging, two-part feature series on his police force that was published this week, Bratton had said: “We have a significant population gap among African American males because so many of them have spent time in jail and, as such, we can’t hire them.”
The application process to join the NYPD includes, among other things, a complete criminal background check.The application process to join the NYPD includes, among other things, a complete criminal background check.
Convicted felons are automatically disqualified from the NYPD applicant pool, as is anyone found guilty of a domestic violence charge or who has been dishonorably discharged from the military.Convicted felons are automatically disqualified from the NYPD applicant pool, as is anyone found guilty of a domestic violence charge or who has been dishonorably discharged from the military.
A complicating factor was what Bratton called the “unfortunate consequences” of an explosion in stop-and-frisk incidents that caught many young men of color in the net by resulting in them being given a summons for a minor misdemeanor.A complicating factor was what Bratton called the “unfortunate consequences” of an explosion in stop-and-frisk incidents that caught many young men of color in the net by resulting in them being given a summons for a minor misdemeanor.
As a result, Bratton said in the interview with Guardian contributor Donna Ladd, the “population pool [of eligible non-white officers] is much smaller than it might ordinarily have been”.As a result, Bratton said in the interview with Guardian contributor Donna Ladd, the “population pool [of eligible non-white officers] is much smaller than it might ordinarily have been”.
Summonses do not automatically disqualify a candidate, though they are taken into account during the application process. For example, a summons for disorderly conduct would not preclude a candidate from being accepted into the force, but repeated convictions for an offense that demonstrated “disrespect for the law” could result in disqualification.Summonses do not automatically disqualify a candidate, though they are taken into account during the application process. For example, a summons for disorderly conduct would not preclude a candidate from being accepted into the force, but repeated convictions for an offense that demonstrated “disrespect for the law” could result in disqualification.
“The only absolute disqualifier is a felony conviction,” Bratton said at the press conference on Wednesday. “The others – even if you have misdemeanor arrests, summons activity, we will look at that, but it is not an automatic disqualifier, and under no circumstance has stop, question and frisk activity ever been a disqualifier, and that’s the impression that that Guardian story gave.”“The only absolute disqualifier is a felony conviction,” Bratton said at the press conference on Wednesday. “The others – even if you have misdemeanor arrests, summons activity, we will look at that, but it is not an automatic disqualifier, and under no circumstance has stop, question and frisk activity ever been a disqualifier, and that’s the impression that that Guardian story gave.”
Bratton said on Wednesday that at one time, police department applications had included a question about whether the applicant had ever been the subject of stop-and-frisk. But answering “yes” would not have disqualified the applicant, he said.Bratton said on Wednesday that at one time, police department applications had included a question about whether the applicant had ever been the subject of stop-and-frisk. But answering “yes” would not have disqualified the applicant, he said.
“We changed that question,” Bratton said at the press conference. “They were asked starting in 2009 and ’10, ‘Have you been, basically the subject of a stop?’ We took a look at that as part of the changes we were making as part of the overall stop, question and frisk program. We changed that question. Because really it was not a qualifier ... It’s really information that’s of no use or value to us in the application process.” “We changed that question,” Bratton said at the press conference. “They were asked starting in 2009 and 10, ‘Have you been, basically the subject of a stop?’ We took a look at that as part of the changes we were making as part of the overall stop, question and frisk program. We changed that question. Because really it was not a qualifier ... It’s really information that’s of no use or value to us in the application process.”
Stop-and-frisk incidents grew in New York after Bratton left for the top policing post in Los Angeles. Bratton announced an end to the practice in New York upon his return to the city’s top police job in 2014 under New York mayor Bill de Blasio.Stop-and-frisk incidents grew in New York after Bratton left for the top policing post in Los Angeles. Bratton announced an end to the practice in New York upon his return to the city’s top police job in 2014 under New York mayor Bill de Blasio.
Bratton and De Blasio, who also appeared at the press conference, said they wanted to encourage African Americans to join the NYPD. Bratton said the department had been increasing its recruitment of African Americans, although it was not on a par with historic highs. “We were as high as 16% at one time, now we’re around 15.3%,” Bratton said.Bratton and De Blasio, who also appeared at the press conference, said they wanted to encourage African Americans to join the NYPD. Bratton said the department had been increasing its recruitment of African Americans, although it was not on a par with historic highs. “We were as high as 16% at one time, now we’re around 15.3%,” Bratton said.
As the Guardian feature reported, black people make up only 10.86% of the 2015 police academy recruit class, while black residents total about 22% of the city’s population.As the Guardian feature reported, black people make up only 10.86% of the 2015 police academy recruit class, while black residents total about 22% of the city’s population.
Bratton said he had been meeting with the head of the police department’s Guardian Association of African American officers to develop mentoring programs and talk about how to stop recruits from dropping out of the hiring process.Bratton said he had been meeting with the head of the police department’s Guardian Association of African American officers to develop mentoring programs and talk about how to stop recruits from dropping out of the hiring process.
The news conference was called to announce the initiation of an annual police department initiative, called “summer all-out”, to step up law enforcement during the summer months.The news conference was called to announce the initiation of an annual police department initiative, called “summer all-out”, to step up law enforcement during the summer months.