Women in the NYPD

On October 6, 1891, in response to requests from reform groups to have personnel to transport and search female arrestees and prisoners, the N.Y.P.D. appointed the first four Police Matrons. In 1918, the title of Policewoman was created and the first six women police officers were appointed.
Women have been in law enforcement since the 19th century. You would think that by now that all men colleagues would accept policewomen in their workforce. However, 4 years ago in June 2002 the NYPD Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association refused to change its name to the Police Benevolent Association. The change of the association’s name would describe the NYPD and it's members way better considering the fact that it includes over 3,000 women. Many felt that this name change was held up for the fact that women have been in the NYPD for a noticeably long time. Also because it was certain to be passed in special consideration of the death of Officer Moira Smith, who died in the terrorist attacks on September 11.
Majority of votes to change the name was received, however the motion needed a 2/3 majority. Many women of the NYPD took this defeat as a clear message that they are not accepted by all of their male colleagues. Others argued that it wasn't surprising at all considering the NYPD's history. Women weren't allowed to take promotional exams until the 1960's and weren't even able to go on patrol until the 1970's. There are NO women board members in the police union, and NO women allowed to top position by the new commissioner. A high-ranking female NYPD officer, who asked that her name not be used, commented, “It bothers me because it isn’t representative. Times have changed, but they are not willing to change their name.”
Women should be equally respected and honored in the NYPD just as men are. They have gained that from fellow civilians, considering that fact that it isn't easy for a woman to take on a job as a police officer.

September 11, 2001..... Tears and Goodbyes

September 11, 2001 was a tragic memorable moment that will never be forgotten by New York City residents. Many firefighters gave their lives to save people trapped in the towers. There were 23 members of the NYPD who died trying to save as many lives as they could.

"On September 11th 2001, 23 members of the New York City Police Department were chosen for a special detail. As the people in the World Trade Center Towers made their way out, our brave Police Officers began their journey upward to Heaven helping and comforting all they met along the way. The Angels welcomed them and everyone applauded as God presented them with their Wings. The men stepped in line with those chosen before them. St. Michael looked at them with pride. He knew he'd chosen the best. Our proud Police Officers made the extreme sacrific and will continue to serve and protect from up above. May God hold in his arms ALL the Firefighters, the Emergency Medical Technicians, Paramedics, Port Authority Police Officers, Court Officers and Civilians that journeyed side by side our beloved Police Officers through the Pearly Gates to Paradise. We will remember and miss them always. May they rest in peace."

http://www.nypdangels.com/September_11_2001/index.php

The Process in becoming one of New York's Finest

Being part of New York's Finest is an honor and a special recognition. The job of a police officer involves risking their lives everyday in order to try and make New York a better place for us to live. Not many people are willing to take this risk for fear of losing their lives. Being a police officer in New York City is a one in a lifetime experience that doesn't require you to be tied to a desk all day. Its an interesting career and you won't find yourself counting the hours to go home on a regular work day.

The first step in the hiring process of becoming one of New York's finest is a written Civil Service examination. Once you pass that test, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services select you as an eligible to passed on to the NYPD. Then, the Applicant Processing Division begins the selection process.

After this, you go to get a medical examination at their location where you do the fingerprinting and an initial character analyzation. You must bring a document proving you have 60 college credits (2 years) and a 2.0 GPA or 2 years of military service. You will then be sent to another location (on another day) to do a character investigation. There, you will meet up with an investigator who will review your application booklet and all of your documents. After you have done these activities, you will have to take a standardized written psychological test. If you meet all the standards, you will move on to the next step which is the oral interview. After this, you will be given a date to take the job standard test. This is a physical test which has to be completed in 4 minutes and 28 seconds. If you fail any area of this test, you will not be permitted to go on with the hiring process. However, if you pass the test you will be appointed to the pre hire interview. Here, they do a brief medical examination and character investigation update. After all of this is done, and you have passed all the activities. You will go on to the Police Academy. Here, they physically train you to be a police officer. The Police Academy is 6 months long. After those 6 months you graduate and become a certified police officer and officially join New York's Finest.

Other requirements before heading to the Police Academy are:

- You must have an unrestricted driver's license.

- Live in any of the 5 boroughs of New York City or Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam or Orange Counties.

- Are between the ages of 21 to 35.

- Be a citizen of the United States.

While in the Police Academy, the future rookies get $25,100 a year. After the completion of 6 months, the pay goes up to $32,700. And every year after that the pay goes up. When you reach 5 1/2 years, the pay will be $59,588 a year. This doesn't include overtime, holiday pay, and uniform allowance. Not to mention all the benefits that a police officer gets including health benefits, paid vacation, and unlimited sick leave with full pay. Many people complain that the ones that are risking their lives to make this a better place are getting too little a year. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has already suggested raising the cadet salary to about $38,000, as the city prepares to arbitrate with the Police Benevolent Association over salaries.
It's bound to go up, because if it stays this low, there's not going to be any recruits in a few years.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/

What is being done? What can YOU do?

With so many police crimes, people often question what is being done. What can they do if they are mistreated by a police officer? The place to go if you are mistreated by a police officer is the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. If you go to the police precinct, it would probably take all day, or they wouldn't see you at all.

When you file a complaint:

-- That complaint stays on the officer's permanent record.

-- That complaint can get that officer some discipline and it can prevent other people from having similar encounters with that officer.

-- Complaints that you file can alert police commanders about abusive police practices within their precincts or other commands.

-- If you want, you can have mediation with the police officer who offended you and face them one on one.

-- Each complaint is investigated by the CCRB civilian investigators.

How to file the complaint:

-- CALL the CCRB Hotline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: dial 311 (outside NYC dial 212-NEW-YORK; TTY/TDD - 212-504-4115).
-- FILE IN PERSON at 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, Manhattan, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 6:00pm.
-- By Subway:
R or W to Rector St.
1 to Rector St.
2 or 3 to Wall St.
4 or 5 to Wall St.
J, M or Z to Broad St.
A or C to Fulton St./ Broadway-Nassau
-- FILE ONLINE using our online complaint form
-- WRITE A LETTER to the CCRB at 40 Rector Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10006
-- SEND a self-mailer complaint form (available by calling the CCRB).

Even though the employees of this organization claim that it is under financed, under staffed, and all, the organization is helpful to those who have unpleasant encounters with police officers. You don't have to stay quiet if you were verbally or physically abused by a cop.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/ccrb/home.html

Sean Bell - Sadly Enough, Let the Games begin...

The Sean Bell case was a controversy that agitated the tension between African Americans and police officers. Many African Americans feel that police officers are committing hate crimes against the people of the community.

Sean Bell was a young African American enjoying his last night as a single man. He was in a Queens night club Kalua, a site of frequent drug, weapon and prostitution complaints in Jamaica. An undercover cop overheard an exchange between a stripper and a man that led the officer to suspect the man was armed. Eight men left the club and argued briefly with another man, with one from the group saying, “Yo, get my gun,”. After Bell left his bachelor's party, an undercover cop identified himself in front of his Nissan altima when Bell was in the car. Bell drove into the undercover police officer striking him twice in his leg. Then he ran into a minivan carrying two backup officers. The officer started firing while yelling to the car’s occupants: “Let me see your hands!” The other officers, believing they were under attack, fired as well, eventually shooting off 50 rounds and killing the driver, Sean Bell. No gun was found in the car, but witnesses and video footage show that a fourth man in the party fled the scene once the altercation began. Bell and the other men with him all had been arrested for illegal possession of guns in the past. One of Bell’s companions that night, Joseph Guzman, had spent some time in prison, including for an armed robbery in which he shot at his victim.

Sean Bell's reaction to the undercover cop would lead anyone to believe that he was indeed armed. Why would a person react so violently if they weren't hiding anything? I understand why the police officers reacted this way. The undercover cops were on duty investigating a drug/ gun possession case. It seemed to them as if they caught their suspects.

However, I can understand why the black community is resentful towards the NYPD. Police officers have been making mistakes that have unfortunately been taking away innocent lives. But this one case can't be categorized as a racial discrimination act. The undercover team was racially mixed, and the first shot was made by an African American officer.

www.city-journal.org/html/eon2006-12-04hm.html

Are They Good or Bad??

The existence of police brutality puts all of us in wonder. Are the ones that are supposed to protect us the ones who are offending and hurting us? Are they good or bad? Well, one of the most popular police brutality cases is the one of Abner Louima. According to the victim, he was trying to break up a fight outside a night club when police officers attacked him. Louima, a 30 year old with no criminal record was punched, kicked and taken to the 70th Precinct Station. He also claimed that police officers yelled racial slurs at him right before beating him. At the precinct, Louima said he was beaten again and the wooden handle of a toilet plunger was shoved into his rectum and then into his mouth. Louima was hospitalized with a tear in his colon and a laceration to his bladder. He required a catheter and a colostomy bag to pass urine. Four police officers from the 70th Precinct station were charged in the case and 13 other officers were reassigned.

Ironically, police abuses have increased while city crimes have dropped to its lowest level in a generation. Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announced Tuesday the formation of a $15 million panel of media figures and community activists to meet with police and address the brutality issue. "I think this is an opportunity to build mutual respect and trust and mutual accountability among police and the community," says Police Commissioner Howard Safir. The city has a board to review claims of brutality, but its members say it is under financed, understaffed and virtually ignored by the police and the city. "Police officers view us as a toothless organization," said Earl Ward of the Civilian Complaint Review Board. "And I think it says to a police officer, 'You can conduct any abusive conduct you want to conduct with impunity.'"

This is a very disturbing case. I was very disappointed at the fact that there are police officers capable of doing these monstrous acts. I believe police officers should be physicologically trained before being hired. When you hear about stories like these you would think background checks aren't done before hiring police officers. Truth is, before becoming one of New York's Finest, many exams and background checks are done. But its impossible to distinguish what cop is capable of doing these acts.

http://www.cnn.com/US/9708/20/ny.beating/