Opinion ID: 2782334
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Avenues for Civilian Complaints to the NYPD

Text: Patrol Guide Section 202‐09 states that one duty of a commanding officer in the NYPD is to “[m]aintain as much personal contact as possible with business, civic [organizations] . . . and other groups or media with community influence and interests to keep abreast of community tensions and trends.” Joint App’x 209. In this spirit, the Precinct held monthly Community Council meetings in which the public was invited to raise concerns about policing practices. Captain Bloch testified that he routinely attended these meetings, missing fewer than four or five of the previous thirty. In addition to the Community Council meetings, Captain Bugge testified that, one to three times per month, he met with members of the public, such as local politicians, church leaders, or 8 members of civic associations, to discuss policing issues in the Precinct. The minutes of one Community Council meeting reflect that Captain Bugge announced that “he welcomes the community to call him and discuss problems.” Joint App’x 246. Captain Bloch testified that in his experience, however, meetings with community members outside of the Community Council meetings happened “rarely.” Joint App’x 131.