New York: Illegal Police Stops Surge Under Mayor Eric Adams’ Administration, NYPD Audit Reveals
Illegal police stops by the New York City Police Department (NYPD) have significantly increased under Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, according to a report from a court-appointed monitor.
An audit released on Wednesday revealed that the NYPD has been conducting more stops, frisks, and searches, with a substantial portion violating the law. In 2023, nearly 17,000 stops were reported—almost double the number from 2020. The monitor found that 12% of stops, 31% of frisks, and 33% of searches were deemed unconstitutional.
The audit highlighted that the NYPD’s specialized neighborhood safety teams and public safety teams were responsible for the majority of these unlawful stops.
“We need to scrutinize these units closely to evaluate their effectiveness and necessity. They may be harming New Yorkers rather than performing lawful policing,” said Guadalupe Aguirre, a staff attorney for the New York Civil Liberties Union.
The NYPD released the following statement in response to the report:
“Public safety and constitutional policing are both critical components of the NYPD’s mission, and members of the Department work tirelessly, every day, to keep people safe and to police fairly. The Department is proud that New York remains the safest big city in America and of the reforms that it has made, which the Monitor has recognized. The NYPD is committed to working collaboratively with the Monitor to address the areas of concern raised in this latest report.”
When asked for comment, the mayor’s office referred CBS News New York to police.
