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Pols Want NYPD To Erase Database Of Innocent People
By
Ben Muessig
Published Mar 11, 2010
Modified Mar 11, 2010
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By
Ben Muessig
Published Mar 11, 2010
Modified Mar 11, 2010
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Councilmembers are pushing the NYPD to abolish a database containing the names of New Yorkers who have been stopped, frisked, and released without charges. With the NYPD stopping and frisking a record number of people last year, Council Speaker Christine Quinn (D-Manhattan) and Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Queens) wrote a letter urging Police Commissioner Ray Kelly to get rid of files on individuals who haven't been arrested or given summonses, arguing the current policy "raises significant privacy-right concerns and suggests that these innocent people are more likely to be targeted in future criminal investigations."
According to the Times the councilmembers contend that keeping data on people who haven't been accused of crimes is hypocritical, considering that individuals who have been exonerated of crimes can have their criminal records sealed. They also want Kelly to explain in what instances police officers are allowed to access the database, the Daily News reports. Although about 85 percent of people on the list have done nothing wrong, the police force has defended its record-keeping claiming it helps detectives conduct investigations.
That said, NYPD spokesman Paul Browne acknowledged that the politicians "made some interesting points, which Commissioner Kelly is considering."
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