Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Here's An NYPD Training Video On Stop & Frisk
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Apr 28, 2013
Modified Apr 28, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Apr 28, 2013
Modified Apr 28, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
As part of the defense of the NYPD's use of stop-and-frisk, City attorneys played an NYPD training video in court last week. The nine-minute video instructs officers to use "sharp observation skills" to locate concealed weapons on suspects. "Don't be shy about going into the crotch area," the video's narrator says.
Like the City's defense of the tactic in the landmark federal trial to determine its constitutionality, the video stresses that officers can spot and confiscate illegal weapons during a stop if they are observant, and provides two real examples of officers who recovered guns during stops in Bed-Stuy. Stop-and-frisks, the NYPD and City attorneys argue, are vital to keeping illegal guns off of the street.
But data does not support the tactic's effectiveness in recovering weapons: as the number of stops increased by more than 300% from 2003 to 2011, only 176 additional guns were recovered. Last year, a gun was found in 0.1% of stops. Even Mayor Bloomberg has acknowledged that the stops don't prevent shootings.
Deputy Chief James Shea, who heads up operations at the Police Academy, is testifying at the trial as a witness for the City. "A lot of training, ongoing training program up at our Rodman's Neck range. We use attorneys, we use that video," Commissioner Ray Kelly told NY1. "So we are very much concerned about the issue but I believe we are on top of it. And I believe that training video if you saw it, is very well done."
What puzzled us after witnessing the live stop-and-frisk drills is how little they resembled reality: an overwhelming majority of the stops occur when officers observe suspicious behavior ("furtive movements" or a "suspicious bulge"). But the two scenarios presented to the media last June were radio calls. A third was a domestic disturbance.
"They are reflective of actual jobs," Shea told us of the live scenarios, adding that radio runs are "easier for me to control for training purposes."
Also not part of the NYPD's stop-and-frisk training: Commissioner Kelly's 2011 directive to officers to stop tricking people into bringing small amounts of marijuana into public view, thus turning violations into time-consuming, overtime-friendly misdemeanors.
However, in 2012, both marijuana arrests and stops declined, along with the City's murder rate and overall crime rate (minus thefts of Apple products).
Here's one of the stops we recorded from the training demonstration last year.
NYPD Stop & Frisk Demo 1 from Gothamist on Vimeo.
Tagged
nypd
Police Academy
Ray Kelly
stop and frisk
stop-and-frisk trial
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 10:34 a.m. ET
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
News
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
Repeat offenders are a big talking point in the governor's race.
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD searching for 'person of interest' in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .