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Friday, June 7, 2013

Stop-and-Frisk Controversy Continues



By David Greene

BRONX, NEW YORK, June 7- The very day a federal trial concluded regarding the New York City Police Department's controversial stop-and-frisk initiative, two men were stopped along Andrews Avenue-- and the pair were sent on their way without a form being filled out, detailing when, where and why they were stopped as per NYPD patrol policy guidelines.

The men were stopped by four officers and two detectives from the 52nd Precinct as they chatted at about 2 p.m., at the corner of Andrews Avenue and North Street, in the rough-and-tumble University Heights section.

The pair were questioned and searched for about 10 minutes, before they were allowed to go.

One of the men stopped, a 49-year old man, offered, "Yeah, they thought we were doing something."

Referring to the NYPD protocol of providing the public with a document detailing the stop, the man continued, "Yes, they are suppose to give us some kind of paper, they didn't give me anything."

The same day the men were stopped, a nine-week, class action lawsuit against the NYPD and its stop-and-frisk policies, came to an end as both sides rested. Supporters on both side continue to wait for U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin's decision.

In New York City the stop-and-frisk program began in the mid 1990's, but officers did not begin to record the stop-and-frisk of civilians until 2002. Local officers recorded their 5-millionth stop in March.

According to NYPD protocol, officers are supposed to fill out a UF-250 after every stop-and-frisk, however, the New York City Bar Association recently concluded, "Not all stops are recorded."

An e-mail request for comment was not immediately acknowledged by the NYPD.

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