The Center for Constitutional Rights slammed the NYPD today over the leak of an internal report from the mayor’s office apparently finding Judge Shira Scheindlin biased against law enforcement.

Scheindlin has a long history of covering stop-and-frisk related cases, and is presiding over a major one currently. The Center of Constitutional Rights is on one side of that case; the NYPD and the City are on the other.

The report was apparently leaked to the New York Daily News. According to the News, the report found that Scheindlin decided against law enforcement in 60 percent of her written opinions on “search-and-seizure” over the course of her nearly two decades on the bench. The study allegedly also says that rate is the highest among 16 current and former Manhattan federal judges that the report included since 1990.

The mayor’s office reportedly declined to comment to the News, but Scheindlin told the News that the study is “completely misleading” as it doesn’t include any rulings from the bench.

While the majority of her written opinions may involve dismissing evidence, she told the News that in “nearly all” of her bench rulings on seized evidence, she has denied motions to suppress.

Early this year, the judge ruled on a case involving stops in some Clean Halls buildings. She ordered that the stops cease, but a short time later rescinded that ruling.

CCR released a statement calling the report “nothing short of outrageous.”

“Having already attacked the Center for Constitutional Rights, communities mobilizing to end violent and discriminatory policing, and the press, the attack on a respected judge scrapes the bottom of the litigation barrel,” the statement read.

CCR recommended that the city instead focus on “studies to remedy the persistent constitutional violations in its police department.”

NYPD spokesman Paul Browne did not immediately respond to a request for comment as to whether the NYPD was responsible for the leak, as CCR’s statement implied.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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A man is stopped and frisked by NYPD in Brooklyn. (Credit: Jeremy Sparig.)

According to one NYPD sergeant, an NYPD inspector general is simply unnecessary. 

Ed Mullins, a sergeant with the 67th precinct in Brooklyn, accused politicians who are pushing for an Inspector General of “political pandering.”

“The NYPD is overloaded with people watching what we do,” he said. “The standards that we’re held to are already in place.”

The argument echoes Christine Quinn’s recent explanation of her choice not to institute an official ban on racial profiling: we already expect law enforcement, and public officials generally, not to engage in racial profiling.

“We do an enormous job on our own as far as discipline goes,” Mullins said. “The penalties in the police department are harsh, people get terminated.”

Mullins thinks the Inspector General proposal is simply a pivot off of the stop and frisk controversy, and he “sympathizes with people on the issue.”

But he insists an Inspector General isn’t the answer—and that the issue of stop and frisk is “not really a racial issue.”

“I don’t believe the police department is targeting male blacks [because of race],” Mullins asserted. “We don’t determine who the perps are, they’re described by the victims of crimes, then we go into specific neighborhoods where the crimes are committed.”

The pressures of CompStat

CompStat was originally a managerial tool brought in by Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne, Mullins explain, meant to create accountability for the precinct commanders to do something about the crimes in their commands.

And it has enabled the police to do their jobs with maximum efficiency, Mullins said. By pinpointing specific areas where crimes are taking place, CompStat can help make the city safer block-by-block.

He gave the example of 42nd Street between 7th and 8th avenues where, in the early 1990s, there would be about 100 robberies a month on that one street alone.

“I’m in favor of CompStat, I don’t think it’s a bad thing,” Mullins said.

But, he added,  ”what it wasn’t designed for was to keep creating demands for more and more and more.”

Mullins explained it’s especially difficult for a brand new commander in a precinct. If crime plummeted the year before, there’s pressure felt to prove oneself with an even greater decrease.

But Mullins pointed out there’s always going to be crime: “The question is, how much crime? Can we try to keep it to where it is?”

Mullins said that while he doesn’t believe there is a quota specifically for stop-and-frisks, “there’s no doubt there’s a quota” system generally.

NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne rejected Mullins’ take on the situation, noting that there has been a 25 percent decrease in the number of stops citywide.

A call for more community engagement

Mullins also suggested that the NYPD may not be doing the most effective job of communicating with the communities they’re operating within.

Mullins suggested that police engagement with the community should start “at the grammar school level.”

“We need to educate children and families so that in the future… they don’t see police as the bad guys,” Mullins said.

“At the end of the day, we all want to go home safe,” Mullins said. “So shouldn’t we be on the same team?”

Browne also dismissed Mullins’ allegation that more community engagement is needed.

The NYPD has an “extensive and mandatory community immersion program that has been part of police training since Commissioner Kelly instituted it after the [Sean] Bell shooting,” Browne said.

Police reportedly participate is the very kind of activities Mullins suggested.

Browne said they also engage in role-playing, including role reversal exercises, with teens and young adults in a separate police-community program, and yet another program engages teens and young adults in actual police training themselves.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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Subways and landmarks are receiving amped-up security in New York City today after explosions at the Boston Marathon.

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  VIDEO: Boston Marathon headquarters locked down after explosion, two reported dead

Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the NYPD stepped up security at strategic locations and important infrastructure around the city, including underground.

“Some of the security steps we are taking may be noticeable, including deployment of critical response vehicles and additional police personnel, and others will not be,” Bloomberg said.

About 1,000 NYPD members are specifically assigned to counter-terrorism duties, he said, and all are fully mobilized today.

“We’re stepping up security at hotels and other prominent locations in the city through deployment of the NYPD’s critical response vehicles until more about the explosion is learned,” NYPD top spokesman Paul Browne told reporters earlier today.

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  PHOTOS: Explosion during Boston Marathon

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today that state security services, including the Division of Homeland Security and state police, emergency services, the MTA and Port Authority, are “on a heightened state of alert as we learn more about this incident.”

New York National Guard officials are at the Boston Marathon, Cuomo added.

He said the New York National Guard sent three vehicles and six soldiers to Massachusetts Sunday.

“They are on hand to assist with emergency response and work together with local authorities following this incident,” he said.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn said New Yorkers “know all too well the devastating reality terrorist acts have had on our country.”

“We must send a clear and unequivocal message to anyone who attempts to harm our country with acts of terror: their deeds will not go unpunished,” she said.

About 530 runners were from the New York City area, according to marathon records.

One city running group, NYC Runs, reported that their runners so far had all reported back that they were safe.

“This is a tragic day for all of us in the running community,” New York Road Runners President Mary Wittenberg said.

“All of our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families of the bombings at the Boston Marathon today, as well as with the runners, spectators, volunteers and staff of the Boston Athletic Association,” she said.

She said NYRR, which runs the ING New York City Marathon, will continue to work “hand in hand” with the NYPD for future events.

“The safety and security of all New York Road Runners’ races is and will always be our top priority,” she said.

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Cops are being urged to look into the criminal records of domestic violence victims, according to an exclusive report from the NY Post.

The report is based on a memo by Chief of Detectives Phil Pulaski, reminding his department of a standard practice that investigates both parties in domestic violence cases, including open warrants, complaint histories, “and even the driving records of both parties.”

The NYPD appears to be taking the report seriously, as the following day Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne released a statement announcing that “contrary to a published report,” a “must arrest” policy does not exist for domestic violence victims.

“While it is standard practice and policy for detectives to investigate victims’ backgrounds to help lead them to the victims’ assailants… the discovery of open warrants on domestic violence victims often results in their warrants being vacated,” Browne explained in the statement.

Yet according to the Post, police sources are upset about the memo, insisting that it means “you have no choice but to lock them up,” and that the policy will deter victims of domestic violence from coming forward.

A vast number of domestic violence cases already go unreported, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. An estimated 1.3 million women are victims of domestic violence.

A separate source reportedly “fumed” to the NY Post that “there’s a lack of common sense in this department right now.”

A police source told Metro that the memo was simply a reminder to “squad investigators to run complete criminal histories on everyone involved in their cases, including domestic violence victims.”

“The thinking, of course, is that we can better do our jobs if we know exactly what, and who, we’re dealing with,” the source said. ”As such, sometimes we find out that victims have open warrants.

“If it’s for drinking an open beer somewhere — not a big deal,” the source added. “If it’s for something more important like a homicide in Albany 10 years ago, say, it can be a big deal.”

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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UPDATE: According to Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly is not opposed to the Guns for Greatness program.

“Commissioner Kelly… is working with the organizers to make it happen,” Browne said.

Metro’s original story is below.

Hip-hop music executive Michael “Blue” Williams has pitched the NYPD a different kind of gun buyback program: “Guns for Greatness” — and “Greatness” is Beyoncé and Jay-Z concert tickets.

Williams’ proposal suggests that people turning in illegal firearms receive tickets to some of this summer’s most anticipated shows.

Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne confirmed that NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly is considering the proposal. Ed Mullins, a sergeant in the detective squad at the 67th precinct, is hoping Kelly approves the program.

“Any program that gets people to turn in illegal handguns is a good program,” Mullins said. “What’s especially good about this program is people look up to celebrities, and we’re now bringing them in to help send the message to get firearms off the street.”

Browne did not elaborate on what Kelly’s hesitations might be, and Mullins couldn’t think of any problems with the program himself.

“I don’t see a downside,” Mullins said. “We’ve done these programs before and they’ve been very successful.”

Typically, the NYPD offers cash vouchers in their buyback programs. Mullins said the funding comes from a variety of sources, including outside sponsors or organizations and individuals within the community.

Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat

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