A witness to the shooting in Fairhill, Philadelphia, claims that officers stopped and searched them without provocation before a chaotic scuffle ensued, resulting in 28-year-old Alexander Spencer being shot in the back and a police officer being injured. The witness's account contradicts the police's initial statement that Spencer fired first. The incident has raised questions about the use of stop-and-frisk and has sparked calls for a detailed investigation and the release of surveillance footage. The shooting has also highlighted the strained relationship between the community and the police, with friends of Spencer alleging frequent harassment and a lack of trust in law enforcement.
A video posted on Instagram raised questions about the fatal police shooting of Alexander Spencer in Fairhill, showing officers with their guns drawn and the chaotic struggle that ensued. Police claim Spencer fired first, injuring an officer, but the video has sparked widespread scrutiny. Critics are questioning whether the officers were engaging in stop-and-frisk, and the newly inaugurated Mayor has promised a full investigation. The video has garnered about 25,000 views and sparked concerns about the officers' conduct and the events leading up to the fatal shots.
The New York City Council has passed the How Many Stops Act, requiring NYPD officers to report low-level encounters with citizens, including instances where officers ask for identification or consent to search. The goal is to gain a better understanding of policing practices in the city. The legislation also mandates the reporting of instances where individuals do not consent to an officer search. The NYPD will be required to post data on these stops quarterly on its website. While the police department and Mayor Eric Adams opposed the bill, citing administrative burdens, supporters argue that it will provide valuable data for informing public safety policy. Racial disparities in police stops persist, with a smaller percentage of white individuals being stopped compared to the stop-and-frisk era under former Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
A new report by a court-appointed monitor has found that the New York Police Department's Neighborhood Safety Teams (NST) are still unlawfully stopping and searching many people, particularly men of color. The report faulted certain units of the NSTs, which are meant to combat gun violence in high-crime areas. The vast majority of stops, about 97%, that occurred between 2003 and 2022 happened during former Mayor Michael Bloomberg's time as mayor. Last year, under Mayor Eric Adams' administration, New York City police conducted more than 15,000 stops.
