New York Democrats Call for Department of Justice Probe Into Eric Garner's Death

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Source: NBC News and news services

Members of New York's congressional delegation are asking the Justice Department to formally investigate the police custody death of Eric Garner and the law enforcement strategy known as "broken windows."

The six Democrats say black and Latino communities are disproportionately affected by the tactic of going after smaller crimes to help stop bigger ones.

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A letter sent Wednesday to Attorney General Eric Holder is signed by Reps. Hakeem Jeffries, Yvette Clarke, Gregory Meeks, Charles Rangel, Jose Serrano and Nydia Velazquez.



Read more: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Eric-Garner-Chokehold-Death-Police-Homicide-Charge-Justice-Department-Jeffries-271285291.html

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(snip)
"We have a 'Broken Windows' policing strategy where selective law enforcement is taking place in communities of color and largely directed and black and Latino men," Jeffries said.

"It's about further working together to make sure that we are not violating - and I think that's what Congressman Jeffries was talking about - we want to have further conversations to make sure we are not violating one's civil rights through the broken windows piece," said Rep. Gregory Meeks.

http://www.ny1.com/content/news/213902/new-york-reps-urge-doj-to-probe-eric-garner-death/

[A Simple Game]

1. They aren't going after the smaller crimes to help stop bigger crimes.

They are going after smaller crimes because they are easier and safer arrests and likely have a higher conviction rate.

There were at least six cops and probably many more in the video where the man allegedly selling untaxed cigarettes was murdered, I have never worked in the crime prevention field but can anyone tell me how that is cost effective? At least six cops end up having to spend several hours each on a crime of selling a couple of untaxed cigarettes not to mention the lawsuit(s) that are to follow. Losing probably less than a dollars worth of tax money is going to cost New York millions. More than a few heads need to roll in the NYPD.

[rhett o rick]

2. I like it when they have an elaborate sting set up with a dozen officers,

to arrest a half dozen prostitutes. And they get to go back and do it again, next week, for the same prostitutes.

"They are going after smaller crimes because they are easier and safer arrests and likely have a higher conviction rate." I agree but would like to add, the smaller crimes are more visible.

[McCamy Taylor]

3. What the hell does "broken windows" mean? Anyone?

[markpkessinger]

4. It's a reference to neighborhoods where petty violations are overlooked by police . . .

The theory, as opposed to the actual practice, of "broken windows" policing is that when petty crimes, and even petty civil violations of property owners (for example, unrepaired broken windows) and businesses are overlooked and not enforced, an environment of chaos and lawlessness ensues that emboldens more serious criminals. It also rests on a rather toxic assumption that those who commit these petty violations are, by and large, the same group, for the most part, that commits more major crimes. Thus, the the theory goes, if police crack down on these petty minor offenses, they will (1) create a more orderly environment that will inhibit more major crimes, and (2) that by aggressively policing and prosecuting minor crimes, police will automatically net a large number of more serious criminals. It's a highly debatable premise, particularly when one looks at the reality of how it has been employed by the NYPD and other police forces: i.e., to harass, oppress and systematically criminalize residents of poorer and minority neighborhoods on the flimsiest of pretexts.