NYPD cops ordered to run criminal checks on domestic-abuse victims

[geek tragedy]

Source: NY Post

Women who report domestic violence are exposing themselves to arrest under a new NYPD directive that orders cops to run criminal checks on the accused and the accuser, The Post has learned.

The memo by Chief of Detectives Phil Pulaski requires detectives to look at open warrants, complaint histories and even the driving records of both parties.



Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/nypd_nab_the_victim_lXiQhecmrcMWX01cMEJ5JJ

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The NYPD pointedly did not deny this per the Gothamist:

Update: NYPD spokesman Paul Browne released this statement about the story: "While it is standard practice and policy for detectives to investigate victims’ backgrounds to help lead them to the victims’ assailants, the NYPD - contrary to a published report - has no “must arrest” policy that applies to domestic violence victims. In fact, the discovery of open warrants on domestic violence victims often results in their warrants being vacated

http://gothamist.com/2013/03/15/nypd_now_running_criminal_checks_on.php

Lesson: if you don't want to be arrested, don't call the police if you are a crime victim.

Dear NYPD: YOU SUCK.

Note: NY Post is an iffy source, but the NYPD has all but confirmed the truth of the story, and the post broke the story.

[Robb]

1. I understood cops always run everybody on a DV call.

Not a cop, but isn't that standard for any altercation?

[geek tragedy]

2. The memo is dated March 5, 2013, and the cops

they talked to think it's a load of horsecrap.

I certainly was unaware that if a DV victim has outstanding parking tickets, she can't call the police without getting arrested herself.

[apnu]

3. My experience in NY is they run your background whenever they like.

I was dring a car that broke down on the highway and the state trooper who found me tossed the car, rand the plates, ran my ID and insurance. I'm surprised she didn't do a cavity search, I felt like a criminal because the car ran out of oil. This was in the early 1990s.

[leveymg]

7. You drove your car without ever checking the oil? That is criminal. Very Bad Carma ;-)

You really should have read and complied with the owner's manual about that.

BTW: How did the trooper "toss the car"? Is this her? :

[apnu]

11. Haha, very cute.

The car was a Buick Century from the early 1980s and it was a total junker. It leaked oil and so we were always having to put oil in to keep it running. That time my stupid ex forgot to put the oil cap back on after putting in a quart and so we were driving around with out the capon. That's why the car broke down. I had no idea the cap was off.

As for karma, everything about that relationship was about me paying off bad karma I've accumulated. Bad situation. She actually sat there silent as the grave when the trooper found out she'd also let the insurance lapse so I got the book thrown at me because I said I was driving when the car broke down, even though I didn't own the car or have the insurance in my name. Took me years to pay off the $1,000 fine working $4.25/hr and my ex tried to get me to pay the impound and towing fees. I had my license suspended for a year and had to go through diver's ed. again like a stupid teenager. I told the bitch to fuck off on the impound fees and that I was fine taking the bus to get around town.

[leveymg]

17. I've always wondered what happens if you told a State Trooper to "fuck off."

And, what a Buick would smell like after four or five quarts of 10W40 sprayed inside the engine compartment. You really didn't notice until the lower end seized?

No wonder you weren't so upset when she tossed the car.

But, a thousand bucks is like a five week's work plus change. I've had a few extreme experiences. Not this one, but similar enough.

First couple round's on me, tonight.

[In_The_Wind]

19. Perhaps

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

[loli phabay]

21. basically anyone involved in a call gets their id ran to make sure theres no warrants.

[Sanity Claws]

4. Good way to keep down crime stats

NYPD loves to say how crime is down, blah-blah. The reality is that they just find ways to not take complaints.

[geek tragedy]

5. Two-fer--allows them to inflate their arrest stats. nt

[Comrade Grumpy]

6. This seems harsh and cruel for domestic abuse victims, but...

...it seems like anytime anybody interacts with police, they run you through the computer.

That spokesman's statement is a bit bogus. Detectives "investigate victims' backgrounds to help lead them to the victims' assailants." Doh, in domestic abuse cases, it's usually pretty clear who the assailant was. No big mystery to investigate.

It is only somewhat reassuring that they will not automatically arrest domestic abuse victims for unpaid traffic tickets and the like.

NYPD sucks, alright, for oh so many reasons.

[FarPoint]

8. It's a strong blackmail tool for the abusers.

They can tell the victims to go ahead..call the cops. .you got a warrant and will go to jail beore I do...Thus, abuse won't be reported in such scenarios.

[Comrade Grumpy]

10. That assumes the abusers actually read newspapers and stuff.

Which in many cases is probably an unwarranted assumption (although I may be displaying a classist bias here).

[FarPoint]

12. It is reasonable for such information to be common knowledge in a relationship.

Or...amongst groups of friends.

[Dryvinwhileblind]

9. Don't do the crime if you can't do the crime...don't do it!

There's your "lesson", and as much as I deplore NYPD tactics, this has more holes in it than can be argued, but hey, have at it.

[meow2u3]

13. It's more like, "Don't be a crime victim if you can't do the time"

I've heard of victim blaming, but this borders on Taliban treatment of rape victims.

[Dryvinwhileblind]

14. No, it borders on overblown sensationalism...

...however I so respect your view, and thanks.>> Rrrrruff

[VA_Jill]

15. Great.

You get abused and report it and the cops abuse you some more. Just great.

[idwiyo]

16. Is this for fucking real? WOW. I mean how WTF?

[In_The_Wind]

18. run criminal checks on domestic-abuse victims

... Yeah! Let NYPD victimize 'm some more!

[Tx4obama]

20. Kick n/t