New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio introduced seven principles he said would increase police officers’ sensitivity while interacting with the people they protect, especially while conducting the controversial street tactic known as stop and frisk, reports the Wall Street Journal. The guidelines, which were named the “seven steps to positive community interactions,” are geared to nonemergency situations. The steps include having officers give their name and rank, being patient and being aware of resources available through the police department and other city agencies that could help those in need.
Officers will be instructed to “actively listen” to people they’re encountering and “to make sure every encounter, whenever possible, ends on a positive note. So people know that they have been served with that respect,” de Blasio said. Acknowledging that there must be some split-second decisions, said de Blasio said, “Most of what police do is more normal interactions, and we want those to be as constructive as possible.” De Blasio made changing stop and frisk a signature issues during his mayoral campaign. He has said that the previous administration’s use of the tactic created a wedge between the police and the community. He said he hired William Bratton as police commissioner in part to change that.