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Council Member Cabán questions NYPD on racial disparities in searches during traffic stops
1:27:09
·
108 sec
Council Member Cabán engages in a heated exchange with NYPD's Josh Levin, pressing for explanations on the significant racial disparities in searches during traffic stops. Cabán challenges NYPD's previous justifications and demands specific answers about post-stop officer observations.
- Cabán reiterates that Black drivers are searched at 10 times the rate of white drivers
- She questions what officers are observing in Black drivers' behavior to justify such a disparity
- Levin attempts to explain 'DeBoer' factors but is pressed for more specific answers
- Cabán emphasizes that the disparities persist even when accounting for deployment patterns and demographics
Josh Levin
1:27:09
up, what was the thing you said I was trying to evade answering?
Tiffany Cabán
1:27:13
I asked you very specifically.
1:27:17
I said the disparities around searches.
1:27:21
So we know that black drivers were searched at a rate roughly 10 times greater than the rate that white drivers were.
1:27:29
And Latina drivers were searched at a rate roughly six times greater.
1:27:33
And your answer to that was, well, it has to do where we're getting the reports and the crime is happening.
1:27:40
We've got more officers there.
1:27:42
And I said, well, what are you seeing in these stops post stop?
1:27:45
What is the officer observing that is rising to the level of these searches at such a disparity, and you could not articulate what that was after after testifying around De You couldn't answer that question.
Josh Levin
1:28:01
So let me address it for you now because that's clearly not what I heard earlier so we can make sure we're on the same page.
1:28:07
As you know, in DeBoer, you have to be able to articulate certain factors that get you to a higher level of suspicion.
1:28:15
It all depends on what the crime is.
1:28:17
So for example, if it's a DWI, you're looking for messed up clothing, slurred speech, blurry unfocused eyes, flushed face.
Tiffany Cabán
1:28:26
And how many of those I'm aware of all bloodshot red eyes.
1:28:30
I'm I am aware.
Josh Levin
1:28:31
So this is my way of explaining to you
Tiffany Cabán
1:28:33
that Putting aside all the things putting aside all percentage that are stops related to DWI.
1:28:39
I'm talking about moving violations, things other than that, that are when a black person gets stopped versus a white person, they are being searched 10 times more.
1:28:50
What is it about their behavior that is different, that is rising to the level of a search consistently 10 times more than a white driver?