In August a judge ruled the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) Stop-and-Frisk policy as unconstitutional. Due to Stop-and-Frisk, innocent African-Americans and Latino’s were targeted and harassed by the NYPD.
CNN reported the ruling. Federal Judge Shira A. Scheindlin concluded that the policy violated the constitution. The policy also violated the Fourth Amendment which protects citizens from illegal search and seizure.
"The city's highest officials have turned a blind eye to the evidence that officers are conducting stops in a racially discriminatory manner. In their zeal to defend a policy that they believe to be effective, they have willfully ignored overwhelming proof that the policy of targeting 'the right people' is racially discriminatory and therefore violates the United States Constitution," Scheindlin wrote.
Judge Scheindlin called for reforms to the Stop and Frisk policy and for the monitoring of the NYPD.
Even though the policy promoted racial profiling, some city officials did not agree and said they would appeal the ruling.
Business week reported that New York City asked a federal appeal court to remove Scheindlin’s ruling and the changes she ordered.
The NYPD believes that Scheindlin was biased in her ruling and her ruling is tarnishing the image of the department.
Apparently getting called out about racist policies can ruin the image of a department rather than carrying out racist policies, you learn something new every day.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
