The NYPD Tapes: Inside Bed-Stuy's 81st Precinct

villagevoice.com ^ | 4 May, 2010 | Graham Rayman

[marktwain]

Two years ago, a police officer in a Brooklyn precinct became gravely concerned about how the public was being served. To document his concerns, he began carrying around a digital sound recorder, secretly recording his colleagues and superiors. Chad Griffith At 1.7 square miles, the 81st Precinct in Bedford-Stuyvesant is one of the smallest in the city, but the densely populated neighborhood is also a rough place to work. One cop there recently told us, “It keeps you from getting bored is about all you can say.” At 1.7 square miles, the 81st Precinct in Bedford-Stuyvesant is one of the smallest in the city, but the densely populated neighborhood is also a rough place to work. One cop there recently told us, “It keeps you from getting bored is about all you can say.” Details Follow continuing coverage of the NYPD Tapes here at our Runnin' Scared blog.

The Voice presents excerpts from "The NYPD Tapes: Inside Bed-Stuy's 81st Precinct," from precinct roll calls between June 1, 2008 and Oct. 31, 2009.

JANUARY 28, 2009 "How Many Superstars and How Many Losers Do You Have"

In this excerpt, the 81st Precinct commander, a lieutenant and a sergeant talk about the constant pressure from bosses, and push cops to "get their numbers."

JUNE 12, 2008 "The Hounds are Coming"

Precinct supervisors talk about a specific "numbers" quota, warn cops to pick up their numbers, or else, and complain about outside inspections.

[marktwain]

Older, but I did not see it posted anywhere.

[Respond Code Three]

As in all cases, these are just allegations. That being said, if the allegations are true, then this particular precinct and the managers in charge are in need of a world class reaming.

Were it up to me, I would start with a civil rights investigation regarding deprivation of rights under color of authority. Not stopping there, I would also explore filing RICO actions, criminal and civil, against individual managers and the NYPD for conspiracy to obstruct investigations.

I am not a fan of Federal supervision but I would make an exception in this case. A master needs to be named to make sure that crimes are not being covered up or suppressed because of any perceived need to make the stats look favorable to the precinct.

There is so much that can be said because of what has happened in this precinct, but it is what happens when Police Departments become stat driven and bean counters are the managers.