All about Policing with a sprinkle of Criminal Justice – written by a Secret Contrarian
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Allegations from the public that New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) officers have used excessive or unnecessary force increased significantly during the Adams Administration,[1] increasing risks to New Yorkers, costly claims payouts, and the erosion of community trust that can undermine public safety. Incidents of excessive or unnecessary use of force investigated and closed by the City’s Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) jumped by 49% between 2022 and 2023, to the highest number since 2013. In addition, in Fiscal Year 2025, “Police Action” claims—including those involving excessive or unnecessary force—were the most common tort claims against the City, with 6,082 claims filed and over $113 million in settlements, making the NYPD the City’s largest source of claims.[2]
Some recent developments suggest that the NYPD is taking steps to better address officer misconduct. In March 2025, Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that the NYPD imposed discipline in 100% of substantiated cases prosecuted by the CCRB.[3] The NYPD has also shifted from sending officers who conducted unconstitutional stops solely to retraining, imposing stricter disciplinary measures such as suspension in some cases. However, gaps remain. For example, after CCRB substantiated charges following a Force complaint, NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Trials, Rosemarie Maldonado, found that Lt. Jonathan Rivera’s shooting was not justified under New York law, found him guilty of Assault in the First Degree, and recommended termination in a March 5, 2025 decision. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch reversed that decision, finding Rivera not guilty on all specifications on August 15, 2025, and allowed him to remain employed as an NYPD police officer. Read on HERE
Get the report HERE
Use of force by members of the NYPD surged 20% last year to 11,746 incidents — a record high since the department began detailed record-keeping on the issue in 2016, according to a police department report quietly posted online in recent days.
Roughly half the incidents of force occurred in response to crimes or violations in progress, which often result in arrests. Incidents involving people in mental or emotional distress and encounters with prisoners accounted for 14% and 7% of the total, respectively, according to the report.
The department recorded just over 260,000 arrests last year, the highest total since 2017, when there were 286,230 arrests. That year, however, there were 7,369 incidents where force was used — nearly 40% fewer than last year.
Read More HERE
See the report HERE
A steep rise in criminally charged people with severe mental illnesses has all but halted patients’ ability to get care in Ohio’s state psychiatric hospitals.
— Read on www.themarshallproject.org/2025/12/22/ohio-mental-psychiatric-hospitals-care
NOTE this is part 1 of a 7 part series.
Far fewer people are using Gov. Gavin Newsom’s CARE Court than he projected when he launched the mental health program to help homeless Californians.
— Read on calmatters.org/health/mental-health/2025/09/care-court-2025-data/
The Justice Department has embarked on a monthslong effort to prosecute people accused of assaulting federal officers during protests of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
— Read on apnews.com/article/ice-immigration-protests-prosecutions-doj-arrests-591f155d50c13756842e033ea23f16d3
How can the toughest problems of urban life be addressed in a serious, sustained way? The purpose of this series, which began with “What To Do (and Not To Do) About Subway Safety” and will continue with installments on disorder, policing and other topics, is to deliver to policymakers the best ideas distilled into steps that can be taken now and longterm changes that must undergird sustained achievement.
— Read on www.vitalcitynyc.org/articles/what-to-do-about-people-in-crisis-on-streets-and-subways
“Suicide by cop” refers to encounters in which civilians intentionally provoke a lethal response from law enforcement. Police and their advocates
have developed suicide by cop into junk science that serves as a broad defense against liability. This Article explores the origins and use of suicide by cop, and argues that police should be required to exercise a higher duty of care to protect people from excessive use of force.
— Read on www.californialawreview.org/print/suicide-cop
There have been many questions about police proactive behavior and its impact on crime. In 2020 two events caused police officers to “back off” on their street activity. Dr. Jessica Huff explains the research into de-policing and how a reduction in proactive behavior lead to an increase in some types of crime.
Main Topics
Police officers backed off on their proactive behavior as the result of both department policy during COVID, as well as the social pressure after the death of George Floyd.
Street-level officers demonstrated a significant reduction in some behavior.
Backing off on proactive behavior was associated with an increase in some types of violent and property crime.
Get the podcast HERE
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability determined that three tactical team officers assigned to patrol the Near North (18th) Police District improperly searched Limorris Bell and his car on Sept. 1, 2024.
— Read on news.wttw.com/2025/12/16/police-brass-agrees-suspend-officers-violating-rights-black-driver-during-downtown
See also:
https://www.chicagocopa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2024-0007034_FSR.pdf
https://news.wttw.com/sites/default/files/article/file-attachments/COPA_Letter_to_Cmdr._Barz.pdf
Policing in Partnership: the role of public-private partnerships in tackling theft and fraud – The Police Foundation
— Read on www.police-foundation.org.uk/publication/policing-in-partnership-the-role-of-public-private-partnerships-in-tackling-theft-and-fraud/
Get the .PDF HERE
All about Policing with a sprinkle of Criminal Justice - written by a Secret Contrarian
News and professional developments from the world of policing
A veteran police chief committed to improving police leadership, trust, effectiveness, and officer safety.
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