The NYPD's public safety policy of "Harass all young minority males who show themselves in public," politely dubbed "Stop and frisk," is currently on trial for its legal life. Hilariously (unless you are a young minority male), police officials are still able to insist with a straight face that such a program does not constitute "racial profiling." Hey, let's roll that tape, recorded by an NYPD officer who was being berated by his superior!
After an exchange about Mott Haven, a particularly crime-prone neighborhood, the inspector suggested that the police needed to conduct street stops of the people creating "the most problems" there.
"The problem was, what, male blacks," Inspector McCormack said. "And I told you at roll call, and I have no problem telling you this, male blacks 14 to 20, 21."
If you don't believe that orders to stop "the right people at the right time, the right location" clearly constitute a policy of racial profiling, well... don't be an NYPD officer. You would never make your quotas.
[NYT. Photo: AP]