[news] Officer refuses to arrest homeless man, suspended

[Pat S]

Police officer refuses to arrest homeless man, and is suspended

http://www.sunspot.net/news/nationworld/bal-te.cop30nov30,0,1022281.story?coll=bal%2Dnationworld%2Dheadlines

NEW YORK - Amid growing complaints that the New York Police Department is 
singling out homeless people in anti-crime sweeps, police officials have 
suspended an officer who refused orders to lock up a homeless man sleeping 
in a private Manhattan garage.

Officer Eduardo Delacruz was taken off the force for 30 days after telling 
superiors he would not participate in the arrest of Stephen Neil, 44. The 
man had refused a request to immediately move or report to a shelter.

Delacruz, who was part of the department's Homeless Outreach Unit, had 
reportedly told other officers earlier that he would not take homeless 
people into custody. According to a police report, he reiterated that 
position when other officers began to arrest Neil during the Nov. 22 
incident, saying: "I told you before, I'm not going to do it. I won't arrest 
an undomiciled person."

The suspended police officer stood by his actions yesterday, telling the New 
York Post that his refusal was a matter of principle that "means a lot to a 
lot of people." He refused to comment further about his suspension.

The controversy underscored a growing debate over the way the NYPD monitors 
homeless people. Although precise figures are not available, police 
officials say that the number of homeless arrests for a variety of 
infractions is increasing, mainly because there have been more encounters 
between officers and street people.

Advocacy groups called the suspension heartless, and Patrick Markee, 
spokesman for the Coalition for the Homeless, said Delacruz should be 
applauded for his sensitivity. Other groups are trying to end what they call 
a deliberate practice of arresting more homeless people.

Josh Getlin is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, a Tribune Publishing 
newspaper.




_________________________________________________________________
The new MSN 8: smart spam protection and 2 months FREE*  
http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail