FBI director concedes he has little evidence to support 'Ferguson effect'

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

FBI director concedes he has little evidence to support 'Ferguson effect'

James Comey says it’s ‘common sense’ that police scrutiny has caused crime
spike, as White House appears to distance itself from comments

Ciara McCarthy in Chicago and Sabrina Siddiqui in Washington
Monday 26 October 2015 19.48 GMT

FBI director James Comey conceded on Monday that he had little evidence to support his theory that a recent increase in crime was caused by heightened scrutiny of the police, as the White House appeared to distance itself from his remarks.

Addressing police chiefs at a conference in Chicago, Comey said he could not be certain that the so-called “Ferguson effect”, following unrest in the Missouri city after the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old last year, had led to a retreat by officers, but said this was “common sense”.

“The question is, are these kinds of things changing police behavior around the country?” said Comey. “The honest answer is I don’t know for sure whether that’s the case … but I do have a strong sense.”

Barack Obama’s press secretary, however, said at a White House briefing on Monday that available evidence “does not support the notion that law enforcement officers around the country are shying away from fulfilling their responsibilities”.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/oct/26/fbi-director-ferguson-effect-crime-policing-james-comey

[Taitertots]

1. Let's change the meme. The Ferguson effect is now...

The increase in crime that is a result of increased police criminality.

Criminal cops have so damaged the public opinion of our legal system that people are more likely to commit crimes.

[Downwinder]

2. Of course he has no evidence, FBI does not track killer cops.

[tk2kewl]

3. In other words "FBI Director concedes he is a hack"

[ThePhilosopher04]

4. He should be forced to resign

For making such reckless, inflammatory and unsubstantiated comments. It's one thing for a private citizen to offer an opinion but another for the nation's chief law enforcement officer to try and undermine legitimate right to protest injustice.