Precision Policing: Respecting Our Citizens’ Dignity

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 20: William 'Bill' Bratton, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department, listens during a press conference announcing corruption charges against members the New York City Police Department, at the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, June 20, 2016 in New York City. Early Monday morning, three members of the New York City Police Department and a businessman, who is a top fundraiser for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, were arrested on federal corruption charges including the exchange of lavish gifts for favors. Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Prior to his forthcoming retirement from the NYPD, Commissioner Bill Bratton deserves a commendation for enhancing community policing.

This enhancement includes improved training for officers, better patrol strategies emphasizing a positive interaction with the public, and sharpening officer’s problem-solving skills.

Bratton recently memorialized his philosophy with these words, “We want to develop well-rounded, highly skilled police officers, not arrest machines.”

The NYPD commissioner also emphasizes the positive results of “precision policing,” a contradiction to the stop, question, and frisk controversy.

The heart of the stop, question, and frisk controversy, according to Bratton, was a period of 700,000 stops with an arrest rate less than one-in-ten.

Police, according to Bratton, became imprecise in exercising their powers with stop, question, and frisk, and cast a net that was too wide.