law enforcement

New York Police Department Commissioner William Bratton attends a press conference after witnessing police being retrained under new guidelines at the Police Academy on Dec. 4.

National

NYPD Disciplinary Problems Linked To A 'Failure Of Accountability'

7:36pm January 26, 2015

by Robert Lewis

The New York Police Department is one of the most sophisticated in the world, with advanced systems for fighting crime. But it's not so good at policing its own officers, criminal justice experts say.

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There's been a sharp decline in the number of arrests and tickets and summonses issued in New York City. Police sometimes use work slowdowns to show dissatisfaction with policies, workloads or contract disputes.

National

When Morale Dips, Some Cops Walk The Beat — But Do The Minimum

6:29pm January 08, 2015

by Martin Kaste

Arrests and ticketing are way down in New York City. Many believe it's a way for officers to show frustration with the mayor. If so, it wouldn't be the first time cops have protested by slowing down.

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Police officers check drivers at a sobriety checkpoint in Escondido, Calif.

Traffic Stops Persuade People To Avoid Drinking And Driving

4:17pm January 04, 2015

by Patti Neighmond

Everyone knows it's dangerous to drink and drive, but a lot of people still do it. Strict enforcement of traffic laws makes it less likely that people will get behind the wheel when soused.

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A screen shot of Doug Williams from one of his videos on how to beat a polygraph test.

National

Trial Of Polygraph Critic Renews Debate Over Tests' Accuracy

6:23pm January 02, 2015

by Martin Kaste

Doug Williams, one of the country's most vocal critics of the polygraph test, will go on trial in January. For decades, he has helped people "beat" the test by exploiting its shaky science.

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National

Obama Administration Unveils New Limits On Racial Profiling

5:44pm December 08, 2014

by Laura Sullivan

Attorney General Eric Holder says he hopes state and local police will adopt the new guidelines for federal law enforcers.

Protesters and law enforcement officers face off during a protest outside the Ferguson Police Department in October. Ferguson police statistics show the department arrest blacks at a higher rate than other racial groups â but that disparity is true f

Racial Disparities In Arrests Are Prevalent, But Cause Isn't Clear

12:00pm November 24, 2014

by NPR Staff

Ferguson, Mo., police statistics show the department arrests blacks at a higher rate than it arrests other racial groups. But that disparity is true for police departments across the country.

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Mike Myers is the roving village public safety officer serving southwest Alaska villages including Manokotak. Like many officers in rural Alaska, Myers doesn't carry a gun and often doesn't need one.

National

Officer's Death Raises Safety Concerns For Alaska's Unarmed Law Enforcement

2:16pm November 20, 2014

by Martin Kaste

Remote Alaskan villages are some of the last places in America patrolled by unarmed officers. But an officer's death last year has challenged ideas about policing on the last frontier.

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Bush pilot John Bouker (right) and village public safety officer Mike Myers (left) outside Bouker's Cessna 207. Bouker transports Alaskan cops to remote areas and helps pick up prisoners.

National

Bush Pilot Helps Rural Alaskan Police Explore Isolated Villages

8:09pm November 19, 2014

by Martin Kaste

The troopers who police rural Alaska can't do their jobs without a good bush pilot to fly them into remote areas. In Bristol Bay, that pilot is John Bouker.

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Police Can Seize And Sell Assets Even When The Owner Broke No Law

7:03pm November 10, 2014

by Laura Sullivan

Civil asset forfeiture rules say all that matters is that the car or house or cash was used by somebody in a crime. Challenging the seizure is often too costly to be worth it.

Apple, which unveiled iOS 8 at June's Worldwide Developers Conference, says it will be technologically unfeasible for police to extract data from its new operating system.

National

Apple: iOS 8 Prevents Cooperation With Police Unlocking Requests

5:16pm September 18, 2014

by Elise Hu

In the rollout of its new mobile operating system, Apple says it has made it technically impossible for the company to unlock phone data, even in response to a law enforcement warrant.