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Q&A
Questioning the significant increase in NYPD vehicle searches
0:52:57
·
90 sec
Council Member Cabán questions NYPD representative Josh Levin about an 83% increase in vehicle searches from 2023 to 2024. Levin struggles to provide a specific explanation for the substantial increase.
- Cabán cites an 83% increase in vehicle searches from 2023 to 2024
- Levin attributes the increase to responding to crime trends and community-specific factors
- Cabán presses for more specific explanations for such a significant increase
- The discussion touches on police discretion in stops and subsequent actions
Tiffany Cabán
0:52:57
The same report found that NYPD searched 83 more vehicles in 2024 than 2023.
0:53:03
Can you explain the the really large increase in vehicle searches?
Josh Levin
0:53:08
So I think it all depends on the conditions that the officers are seeing, and it depends on what the prevalent crimes that are being committed.
0:53:15
We see surges of certain crimes.
0:53:18
So no.
0:53:19
I think it depends on a lot of different factors that are even micro community related.
Tiffany Cabán
0:53:23
So you can't you can't explain an 83% increase over a year span in searches.
0:53:30
You you can't say with any particularity any things that contribute to that massive increase.
Josh Levin
0:53:37
I mean, other than our mission is constantly to respond to the crime trends that we are seeing so we can maintain lawfulness in the city.
0:53:44
And so as those things push and pull, we respond to them.
Tiffany Cabán
0:53:46
And and, obviously, as you said before, when it comes to stops, cops have discretion.
0:53:50
Right?
0:53:51
You you testified.
0:53:53
Cops have discretion.
Josh Levin
0:53:54
What to be done fighting you.
0:53:55
I'm just trying to to No.
Tiffany Cabán
0:53:56
That's yes or no question.
0:53:58
You testified
Josh Levin
0:53:59
that police officers have discretion.
Tiffany Cabán
0:54:00
Made cops have discretion.
Josh Levin
0:54:01
Like in writing a summons or giving someone a verbal warning?
Tiffany Cabán
0:54:04
Yes.
0:54:04
What to be done after a stop?
0:54:06
Cops have discretion.
0:54:07
Correct?
0:54:07
That's what you testified.
0:54:09
You testified cops have discretion.
0:54:11
It's really easy.
0:54:12
I mean, we can roll that like you know, we're gonna move on because we can just play the tape later.
0:54:17
So with that discretion, we've seen also, again, an 83% increase in searches.
0:54:23
Why are black and Latine drivers treated so much differently after they're stopped?