Politics & Government

Tish James Slams 'Stop-And-Frisk' In Wake Of 'N-Word' Charge Against Cop

Police officer accused of racial profiling faces federal civil rights violation after allegedly using slur.

Councilwoman Letitia James, D-Fort Greene, has long gone on the record in opposition to the controversial police tactic of "stop-and-frisk."

Now with Monday's announcement of federal charges against a police officer who used a racial slur after an alleged profiling incident involving an African-American man in April, James again took the offensive against a practice she said "disproportionally affected minority and immigrant communities."

"While we all know that the majority of New York City police officers are excellent public servants who exercise their authority in appropriate situations and with probable cause, this officer underscores the need for NYPD reform on stop-and-frisk," James said in a statement.

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The officer, Michael Daragjati, faces civil rights charges related to the arrest of a 31-year-old black man in the Stapleton section of Staten Island.

Federal prosecutors said Daragjati used the "n-word" in an intercepted phone conversation with a female friend after attending a court hearing after the arrest. The charge is a misdemeanor, which carries jail time of up to a year and a fine of $100,000.

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In her statement, James cast doubt on the NYPD's ability to report incidents involving charges of racial bias during police searches.

"Had this officer not allegedly bragged about this arrest, what evidence of false reporting and misconduct would exist?" she said.

The civil rights charge against Daragjati came months after a class action lawsuit involving alleged abuse of the stop-and-frisk technique .

The agreement, totalling $150,000 which went to nine individuals named in the suit, came with no official acknowledgement of wrongdoing on the part of the city.


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