Greater transparency and accountability on the part of the Police Department in its interactions with citizens is what is sought through a new legislative package exposed on Monday from the Council Chamber before its Public Safety Committee.
This is “How Many Stops” or “Cuántas Detenciones”, a package of two bills that would require full reports each time a person is stopped by a police officer: for example, someone stopped in their car or in the street, as well as greater access to the images of the ‘body cameras’, or body cameras used by officers, among other actions.
A total of 27 of the 51 council members have voted in favor of the package that they, various community organizations and families directly affected, consider crucial to strengthen the accountability of the authorities.
“My position has always been that we all deserve to be safe,” said Councilwoman Carmen De La Rosa. “What the City Council and the Public Safety Committee are seeking today is to bring light and transparency to a process that has not been transparent. We see that in the last year, $141 million dollars has been paid to families of victims of police brutality and they have even died at the hands of the New York City police.”
Preliminary budget hearings began this week, where the Police Department has faced increasing criticism for what has been seen by many as an inflated budget, exorbitant overtime spending and a lack of accountability.
In 2019, Allan Feliz, 31, and Antonio Williams, 27, died at the hands of the police, in isolated cases that remain under investigation. Both incidents occurred in the Bronx during street stops made by officers.
The victims are of Latino and African American origin, and several council members questioned the Police Department during the hearing about the high rates of arrests of people from these minorities as well as their methods of accountability.
“Insecure, it is completely the opposite sense of what they are putting on the street. We, as Latinos or African-Americans, feel afraid when seeing a police officer or being approached by a police officer, either to ask normal questions or to conduct an investigation,” said Sammy Feliz, Allan Feliz’s brother.
The legislative package is now expected to go through a second round of council voting before being reviewed by Mayor Eric Adams.
