On the heels of Gov. David Paterson’s signing this morning of a bill that bans the NYPD from maintaining information gleaned from stop-and-frisks that turn up no illegal activity, Assemblyman Richard Brodsky is accusing his AG rival, Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice, to cease similar efforts employed by her office.

Brodsky says Rice runs “electronic” stop-and-frisk programs that he described as follows:

“(I)nnocent drivers passing through certain neighborhoods had pictures taken of the cars, which were then processed through a License Plate recognition System (LPRS). LPRS will reveal the name and address of the cars owner.”

“After sorting the photo date DA Rice had a letter sent to all car owners who did not live in the immediate vicinity indicating the ‘the police department’s knowledge of their automobile’s presence in the area.’, according to Rice.”

“The cars were not engaged in any other activity other than lawfully driving on public streets, and were not engaged in or suspected of any criminal or inappropriate activity. It is believed that the police records are still in existence.”

In a letter to Rice, Brodsky said he raised this issue at last night’s AG debate and she “defended the program focusing on that part of the effort which inolved undercover sting arrests and your office’s use of diversion programs, where appropriate.”

“I pointed out that the program was a form of electronic stop-and-frisk, and that the sending of a letter to such people indicating police knowledge of their innocent presence in a community was the creation of a permanent record,” Brodsky continued.

“…Last night you also specifically stated that if you are elected Attorney General you will conduct a review of stop-and-frisk policies across the state. Given the program you currently operate, you need not wait for any such speculative event.”

“I ask that you immediately conduct a review of this and any other stop-and-frisk program in Nassau County, and suspend the operation of such programs until the review is completed.”

“We can balance vigorous law enforcement with the right of innocent people to be free of a police record. You spoke emphatically about that balance when it applied to New York City. I ask that you apply the same principles to your own actions as District Attorney of Nassau County.”

In the meantime, Rice released the following statement after Paterson signed the bill into law:

“I applaud Governor Paterson for his progressive action to keep innocent New Yorkers out of the NYPD’s stop and frisk database, and congratulate Assemblyman Jeffries and Senator Adams on this legislative victory.”

“As a law enforcement official, I know that we can reduce crime by improving relationships between police and communities, and this change in practice is a good first step in that direction.”

She noted she sent a letter to the governor on July 6, asking him to sign the bill, which is the one piece of legislation that all five Democratic AG candidates have so far been able to agree on.

Letter to Katheen Rice 7[1][1].16.10

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