By beefing up monitoring, the NYPD could counter "institutional leadership and managerial shortcomings" and reduce police brutality and misconduct, concludes a report by the Council's Public Safety Committee.

The committee accuses the department of perpetuating "a police culture in which officers may be emboldened to conduct themselves in a manner that runs contrary to departmental policy, the law and the public interest."

It concludes that the most grievous incidents of brutality occurred because cops "felt that they could get away with it."

"I believe police brutality is a significant problem," said Sheldon Leffler (D-Queens), committee chairman. "It shouldn't be viewed as idiosyncratic behavior by one or two aberrant individuals."

The report, titled "Beyond Community Relations: Addressing Police Brutality Directly," stems from a series of committee hearings after the alleged police torture of Abner Louima at Brooklyn's 70th Precinct stationhouse.

Police Commissioner Howard Safir harshly denounced the report.

"If you're asking me if I think there's anything new or of great value [in the report], no. It's a rehash," he said.

The existing monitoring program targets cops who receive three or more civilian complaints in a year, five or more over two years or six in their career. But the report urges widening the pool to include those who receive three complaints in two years.

The report also recommended the NYPD should:

Issue a formal strategy for combating police brutality, as it has done for corruption.
Establish uniform disciplinary penalties for cops found guilty of misconduct.
Insure that every precinct desk officer is a lieutenant and that there are enough sergeants to adequately supervise cops, especially those officers lacking experience who garner a disproportionate number of complaints.
In issuing the report, Leffler was joined yesterday by former Mayor David Dinkins and New York Civil Liberties Union head Norman Siegel, among others, who called on the mayor and NYPD to consider the recommendations carefully.

Safir noted that he already had beefed up monitoring, with 21 cops reassigned as a result. Two precinct commanders also were reassigned because they were not sensitive enough to civilian complaints.

Safir called on Leffler and the Council to pass a discipline bill that has been in legislative limbo for nearly a year. The bill would give Safir broader penalties to discipline officers.

-- Midknight - 11/10/98