File #: Res 0033-2004    Version: * Name: Hiring of Police Officers be restricted to NYC residents
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 2/4/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the Legislature of the State of New York to amend New York State Public Officers Law to require that the hiring of police officers to the New York City Police Department be restricted to New York City residents.
Sponsors: Helen D. Foster, Charles Barron, James Sanders, Jr., Albert Vann, Gale A. Brewer, Yvette D. Clarke, Allan W. Jennings, Jr., G. Oliver Koppell, Margarita Lopez, Bill Perkins, Christine C. Quinn, Larry B. Seabrook, Helen Sears, Kendall Stewart, Robert Jackson, Letitia James
Council Member Sponsors: 16

Res. No. 33

 

Resolution calling upon the Legislature of the State of New York to amend New York State Public Officers Law to require that the hiring of police officers to the New York City Police Department be restricted to New York City residents.

 

 

By Council Members Foster, Barron, Sanders Jr., Vann, Brewer, Clarke, Jennings, Koppell, Lopez, Perkins, Quinn, Seabrook, Sears, Stewart, Jackson and James

 

Whereas, New York State Public Officers Law currently allows New York City police officers to reside in certain counties outside of New York City, pursuant to section 3, subdivision 2, of that law; and

                     

Whereas, The Legislature of the State of New York has the authority to pass a law requiring that the hiring of police officers be restricted to the residents of New York City; and

 

                     Whereas, It is common sense and right that New York City should police itself with its own residents; and

 

                     Whereas, There has been an historic problem in New York City with a police force that does not represent the population that it polices, because such a large proportion of officers are non-residents of New York City; and

 

                     Whereas, Since such a large proportion of the New York City police force is made up of non-residents, there has historically been a lack of police understanding and sensitivity to the cultural, ethnic, racial and religious diversities of New York City, and further, such imbalance has often resulted in mistrust, tension, and, at times, violence; and

 

Whereas, New York City residents who are hired to protect New York City are arguably more familiar and have a greater stake in protecting the City in which they live, and further, this familiarity and greater stake can ease the mistrust and tension, and potentially reduce the incidents of violence and police brutality; and

 

                     Whereas, There ought to be a major affirmative hiring plan to recruit police officers from the residents of New York City not just to take the police officer entrance exam, but also to offer guidance through the ensuing application process; now, therefore, be it

 

                      Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the Legislature of the State of New York to amend New York State Public Officers Law to require that the hiring of police officers to the New York City Police Department be restricted to New York City residents.