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Is the NYPD Softening Up on Petty Crime?
By
Billy Parker
Published Jan 8, 2009
Modified Jan 8, 2009
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By
Billy Parker
Published Jan 8, 2009
Modified Jan 8, 2009
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The NYPD may not be using the same bottom-up approach of going after petty crimes as vehemently as they had been for much of the last two decades. Misdemeanors (as well as parking and moving violations) are down for the second year in a row—this year's drop over 7%. This past year, the NYPD stopped having designated "summons officers" at each precinct, leading to questions if they have loosened up on former Mayor Giuliani's zero-tolerance policy for quality-of-life crimes, which the Post credits for "leading to widespread reductions in minor and major crimes." A Poli-Sci professor at John Jay College tells the paper, "Nobody wants to become a police officer to deal with minor traffic violations or issue summonses to people urinating in public." Maybe 2009 will be the year the NYPD will loosen up on stoop drinking.
Tagged
broken windows theory
crime
nypd
petty crime
Billy Parker
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