Insecurity issues including both external and internal terrorism have been on the rise for several years in America. Many cases of both night and daylight theft and armed robbery have been reported in virtually all cities in the USA. The Internal Security Depart at state and federal level have put measures in place to ensure that these crime cases are combated if not fully doing away with them (Ferreira, 1996). Due this urge, the New York City Police Department (NYPD) was put in place in 1845. NYPD is currently the largest municipal security department in America with the primary obligation of enforcing law through proper criminal investigation in the New York City (Franklin, 2012).
Since its establishment, NYPD has done a lot to ensure that New York City is safe for all its residents. In particular, the department has been very effective since 1994 when William Bratton became the commissioner of the department. He introduced one of the policing strategies; proactive policing or otherwise publicly called the Stop and Frisk policy, which has improved security in the city vis-à-vis a lot of criticism from citizens (Ron, 2009). With the proactive policy, Bratton focused on combating crime in all crime hotspots and taking care of victims.
This operation entailed the use of police undercover, decoys, relying on informants, raiding, shadowing offenders, and saturating streets with police officers. Note that criminal acts are not evenly distributed with the city (Ferreira, 1996). To handle this challenge, Bratton ordered police officers to patrol certain areas more than the other areas. Another key factor that proactive policy used is encouraging good relationship between the police department and the people. This strategy incorporates the people into security issues. Citizens were encouraged to call the police using the public number; 911. Although many citizens are of the opinion that the presence of police officers in the streets cannot deter crime, but proactive policy has proved that aggressive patrol makes a lot of difference. However, the citizens seem to like this policy but object the way the police officers stop and frisk them yet they are not crime suspects (Franklin, 2012).
The credits of Stop and Frisk policy can be justified by the tremendous reduction in crime incidence in the city. In January 2013, Ray Kelly the New York police commissioner reported that the strategies used in proactive policy has helped the police department to keep crime cases in New York at very low rates. In addition, this policy has played a big role in preventing terrorist attacks (Ferreira, 1996). Kelly reported that presently murder cases in New York City have reduced to five for every 100000 people. He compares this to 54 murder cases for every 100000 residents in Detroit, 19 in Chicago, and 22 in Philadelphia. Kelly further explains that if proactive policy were not put in place murder cases would have increased from 400 murders experienced in 2012 to 4400 murders in 2013. Additionally, Kelly reported that the city has seen overall crime dropping by 32% since 200. This has occurred despite the fact the police officers were reduced by 6000 and the population has increased by roughly 200000 (CBS, 2013).
Specifically, Kelly credited the stop and frisk strategy more than any other strategy. Stop and frisk strategy played a dramatic role in reduction murder and terrorist cases. For instance, 8000 weapons were arrested in the streets of New York City in 2002, out of which 800 of them were illegal guns(Franklin, 2012). This impressive change made NYPD invest more in stop and frisk policy by establishing vertical patrols and automated monitoring system (Ferreira, 1996). These systems conduct a very high profile busts on gangs, which accounts for approximately 20% of crimes in the city. Since the upgrading of stop and frisk strategy in 2002, gang attacks on public houses has dropped by approximately 54%. To give more strength to this strategy, NYPD has launched a juvenile initiative that tries to stop young citizens from repeating offences. This has been achieved via the Juvenile Robbery Intervention Program, which empowers police officers to visit the homes of juveniles who have faced criminal charges and explain the seriousness of the crime (CBS, 2013).
Despite the entire positive changes that the stop and frisk strategy has dispensed to the people, the strategy and policy as a whole is under assault and criticism from many citizens as well as politicians (Ferreira, 1996). Unfortunately, the legal system is in a way giving the critics more energy. The courtroom has asserted that NYPD’s strategy of stopping, questioning, and frisking criminal suspects is unconstitutional. In addition, the legal body is of the opinion that the way the stopping and frisking is done in favor of some races (Mac, 2013). For instance, on January 8 2013 the judges ruled that NYPD act of stopping and frisking is trespass and thus illegal. This ruling was a blow to NYPD and much worse is anticipated in future because Shira Scheindlin, the American district judge, is expected to rule against all stop-and-frisk in all cities. If this will be done, all police efforts to stop crime will be decimated (Sullum, 2013).
The legal ruling against stop and frisk strategy has been encouraged many several legal cases presented to it. For instance, Ligon v New York challenged a program in the city that authorizes NYPD officers to conduct patrols on private buildings (Mac, 2013). Note that the New York Trespass Affidavit Program (TAP) gives low-income tenants who live in high crime areas protection against intruders, which is similar to protection given to wealthy residents who stay in doorman-guarded villas. However, the new York Civil Liberties Union explains that a police officer have routinely abused their power enshrined in TAP by making unwarranted stopping and arresting low-income residents and their visitors on claims that they trespass without legal justification (Sullum, 2013).
According to my school of thought, I feel that NYPD is a legal office establishing by a parliamentary act. I tend to believe that all the strategies used by NYPD are driven towards ensuring the residents of the city are safe. In as much as the stop and frisk, strategy appears to be a trespass but the fruits it has yield outweighs the inconveniences that the innocent citizens are made to go through (Sullum, 2013). The controversies that have been brought forward by critics will probably kill the good public spirit that NYPD has. It is even unfortunate that the court is making many efforts towards ensuring that the operations of NYPD are curtailed. For instance, the stop and frisk strategy has played a major role at ensuring that murder cases in New York drops from 4400 to 400 in a year (CBS, 2013). Therefore, what is the justification behind the court’s ruling against stop and frisk policy? If indeed the judiciary has ruled in accordance with the constitution, then why has the legislature not done sufficiently to guarantee that the respective rights of NYDP are granted. I tend to believe that in as much as criticism should be encouraged and mostly in a democratic nations, but criticism with negative intentions cannot be justified.
On the other hand, it is discouraging that the media is playing part in fighting the stop and frisk policy. The proponents of this policy have practically justified the relevance and importance of this policy. In addition, we should note that no man under the sun can come up with a public policy that will be perfect and be embraced by every person (Mac, 2013). Obviously, public policies have shortcomings. However, if the positive part of the policy far much outweighs its shortcomings why should public figures such as the media stand to crisis the policy. The media has repeatedly supported critics in purporting that the stop and frisk policy is negative and should be done away with (Sullum, 2013). However, I support the critics who have posed the criticism on the basis that it encourages racism. Indeed, citizens have justified that NYPD officers mostly suspect young Black and Hispanic males. This is wrong because suspecting and stopping blacks and Hispanic males will make this strategy to appear a racist policy (Edward et al., 2010).
Therefore, I feel that NYPD operations should be encouraged. If indeed the constitution does not properly protect this department then the legislature should move in and enact policies that will protect this policy. In addition, the commissioner of this department should encourage measures that will cultivate good relationship between the police and the people. For instance, the police do not have to force their ways into private properties. Stopping people carelessly without tangible reasons should be discouraged. On the other hand, the media should be made to understand that they have a vital role to play in ensuring that the security of the people is assured. Attempting to discourage the operations of NYPD will not help enhance security in any way.
In conclusion, NYPD has achieved a lot as far as the security of the residents of New York City is concerned. Presently, the city is experiencing crimes at a much reduced rates because of the tremendous impacts of the policies applied by NYPD.
References
CBS. (2013). NYPD Commissioner Kelly Credits ‘proactive policing’ for continuing drop in crime. Retrieved 01 Apr. 2011 from http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2013/01/23/kelly-credits-proactive-policing-for-continuing-drop-in-crime/.
Edward, A. T., Lawrence, L. M. & Bruce, M. R. (2010). Proactive police in management. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Ferreira, R. B. (1996). The use and effectiveness of community policing in democracy. Retrieved 01 Apr. 2011 from https://www.ncjrs.gov/policing/use139.htm.
Franklin, E. Z. (2012). The city became safe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Mac, M. H. (2013). Courts v cops: the legal war on the war on crime. City Journal, 23(1), p.1.
Ron, L. D. (2009). Reactive or proactive policing models. Warren, MI: Springer.
Sullum, J. (2013). When proactive policing becomes harassment. Retrieved 01 Apr. 2011 from http://reason.com/archives/2013/03/27/when-proactive-policing-becomes-harassme.
Tierney, H. (2013). Prison population can shrink when police crowd streets. Retrieved 01 Apr. 2013 from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/nyregion/police-have-done-more-than-prisons-to-cut-crime-in-new-york.html?_r=0
