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NYPD Vows to Keep Database Of People Stopped, Frisked And Let Go
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 22, 2009
Modified Oct 22, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 22, 2009
Modified Oct 22, 2009
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More than 85% of people stopped and frisked by the NYPD are released without an arrest or summons. But just because the police let you go, doesn't mean they forget all about you! The NYPD maintains a database of more than 500,000 people stopped, questioned, frisked, and released each year. And Councilman Peter Vallone wants the department to hit delete.
Vallone has frequently complained about the NYPD's stop-and-frisk policy, which hit a record high of 531,159 in 2008. Vallone tells the Daily News, "I support the stop-and-frisk program. But there doesn't seem to be a reason to keep names and addresses of people stopped by police officers and let go." Ironically, those who actually get arrested can have their information sealed if they are acquitted. But if you're just stopped and let go, you're added to the database.
NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly has told Vallone he has no intention of deleting any names from the database. And a Bloomberg spokesman says, "We agree with Ray Kelly." Mayoral wannabe William Thompson also generally supports the stop-and-frisk, but he just thinks it's "overused." He told the Daily News editorial board yesterday, "Police officers off the record will tell you they're pushed to do stop-and-frisks... It's supposed to be when you have a suspicion. It's not just, well, let me stop every person under the age of 22." But people in their early twenties are suspicious!
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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