Report: Watchdogs Proving More NYC Police Force Complaints
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A report by the New York City agency charged with investigating police misconduct complaints shows that more allegations of excessive force are being substantiated.
The Civilian Complaint Review Board's midyear report released Monday says that six percent of force allegations were substantiated between January and June of 2015. That's the most since the second half of 1999.
In the first six months of 2015, the CCRB substantiated 237 complaints against 354 officers, up from 133 complaints against 187 officers last year.
Report: Watchdogs Proving More NYC Police Force Complaints
From October 2014 through June 2015, investigators also substantiated 12 police chokehold cases.
The report finds that about 1,800 officers of the 35,000-member police force are behind 80 percent of force complaints.
The report concludes that cell phone video helps investigators back up complaints.
Complaints overall are trending downwards, thanks to a number of factors, CCRB Chair Richard Emery told 1010 WINS.
"Better training, emphasis on better community relations, I think it can be attributed to sense that the police are trying to be a lot more sensitive to civilian complaints," Emery said. "I have a feeling and I have a belief that the Bratton-de Blasio police department emphasis on community policing is actually taking hold and having an efffect.
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
