Black Police Group: ‘KKK’ Graffitti a Sign Of In-House Racism

NOEL LEADER: Problem bigger than one precinct. A co-founder of 100 Blacks In Law Enforcement Who Care said last week that the NYPD needs a change in its culture at the top after a Harlem Police Officer charged that precinct brass ignored complaints of racist writings in her office, which, he said, is a common problem in the department.

Police Officer Carla Thomas Sept. 8 found that someone had defaced a Post-it in her office in the 32nd Precinct with the letters “KKK,” an apparent reference to the Ku Klux Klan. The Post-it was attached to a straw mat in her office, a symbol of pride in her African roots, Ms. Thomas stated in a complaint with the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity.

‘Internal Racism Systemic’

“There are not too many commands where you can’t see writing like that around the precinct,” alleged Noel Leader, co-founder of 100 Blacks. “Commissioner Kelly still refuses to admit internal racism is a problem.”

“He writes it off as the work of a miscreant,” Mr. Leader added. “I know it is more of a systemic problem.”

The NYPD’s top spokesman, Paul J. Browne, said the investigation of this case was closed because Ms. Thomas did not provide enough information to the NYPD. “No one was identified as having written ‘KKK,’ and [the NYPD Office of Equal Employment Opportunity] directed the precinct commander to instruct members of the command that posting of the letters was offensive and in violation of the Patrol Guide,” he said.

Mr. Browne would not comment about Mr. Leader’s claim that there was a systemic problem. Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly has emphasized the department’s growing diversity, with more than 25 percent of its uniformed force Latino, 16.4 percent African-American and 4.5 percent Asian-American.

Mr. Leader said it was “inappropriate” that the Police Department “failed to take action” in Ms. Thomas’s case and others like it.

He suggested that commanding officers use some of their discretionary power, such as control of time off, to give officers incentives to curb racist behavior.

“The message has to come from the top,” he said.