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Civilian Complaints Against NYC Police Down This Year

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Civilian complaints against New York City police are down this year, especially in the months since the chokehold death of an unarmed black man by a white officer, according to data obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

Allegations of abuse of force, abuse of authority, offensive language and discourtesy were all down, according to the data by the Civilian Complaint Review Board, which investigates misconduct allegations against police.

There were 5,004 complaints by November 2013, compared with 4,150 this year. In all of 2012, the board received 5,741 complaints.

The first half of 2014 saw a 5 percent increase, especially in abuse of authority reports, but since July, when Eric Garner died, complaints have dropped 26 percent, particularly with allegations of use of force. It was the largest decline since the complaint review board was convened in 1993.

The figures come as New Yorkers react to the news this week that a grand jury declined to indict a police officer in Garner's death, amid a national discussion on the interaction between police officers and the communities they serve.

Garner, a 43-year-old father of six, was stopped by police July 17 on suspicion of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes in the Tompkinsville section of Staten Island. In cellphone video of the incident, Garner is seen telling a group of police officers to leave him alone as they tried to arrest him. Officer Daniel Pantaleo responded by wrapping his arm around Garner's neck in what appears to be a chokehold, which is banned under NYPD policy. The heavyset Garner, who had asthma, was heard repeatedly gasping, "I can't breathe!''

The New York City Medical Examiner's office ruled Garner's death a homicide, caused by the officer's apparent chokehold as well as chest and neck compressions and prone positioning "during physical restraint by police." Asthma, heart disease and obesity were also contributing factors.

Police union officials and Pantaleo's lawyer said he used an authorized take down move and not a chokehold against Garner and said Garner's poor health was a main cause in his death.

The grand jury decided that Pantaleo had done nothing criminal. The decision has sparked days of protests across New York and the country.

PHOTOS: Thursday Night Protests

Mayor Bill de Blasio said the complaint numbers show that reforms under his administration aimed at "bridging the gap'' between the NYPD and the community are working.

"We're steadily bringing crime down while drawing police and community closer together,'' he said. He touted Police Commissioner William Bratton as a force of change and said he hoped the three-day retraining on courtesy and use of force that began this week will lead to a continued drop in complaints.

Also Friday, complaint board chairman Richard Emery published on the website new city maps that break down complaints based on police precinct in the five boroughs. He said it was an effort to make the agency's trove of data, usually buried in monthly reports, more accessible and easy to read. The maps are also broken down by allegations, like use of force and abuse of authority. The information will be updated weekly.

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(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 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.)

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